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ASSURANCE 



AND OTHER POEMS, 



BY 



GEORGIANA L. HEATH. 




JUL Zo ici(j 






■w 



BOSTON : 
1). LOTHROP AND COMPANY 

FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS. 



T5 le i°f 



Copyright, iS86, by 
D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY 



The collection of these poems, with the care of issu 
ing thein, is a7i offering of love to the memory of my 
only sister. 



S, Y. M. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



The poetry contained in this volume is the offspring 
of a mind of unusual vigor,, and which had pas§e(^ 
through unusual experiences. The writer felt her Qvyft 
way, independently of human leading, into the Chris-- 
tian path, demanding a solid foundation for every step. 
Finding evidence of her regeneration only after she 
had attained adult age, her religion became the spring 
both of her thought and life. It was her habit of 
mind to question herself rigidly, and to be unsatisfied 
with any thing short of perfection in her experiences 
and in her work. This accounts for that peculiar 
characteristic of her poetry, — a perpetual reaching 
forward to the yet un attained, a yearning for the 
higher, a longing for the glory yet to be revealed. 
She labored over every poem, before it left her hand, 
till she was sure it was as nearly perfect as she could 



vi PREFATORY NOTE. 

make it. She was no copyist. Her peculiarity was 
an intense individualism. 

These poems are not designed for criticism, but as 
memorials of one whom God honored with rare gifts, 
and who consecrated her gifts to His service. Shortly 
before her decease, urged by many voices, she had 
begun the work of arranging them for publication. 
The title is her own; and the order, which gives 
" Assurance " the first place, eminently a fruit of 
her own experience, and a mirror of her thoughts. 
The rest was left for others. May these words 
encourage the doubting, stimulate faith, comfort the 
afflicted, and help those who aspire to the highest and 
the best. Unselfish, and ever planning in behalf of 
others, both in her words and in her works, she 
" allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." 

S. F. S. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Assurance ^ 

Consecration 2 

Via Crucis . , 3 

Palm Branches 4 

Nazareth Flowers . 5 

Christmas Carol . 7 

At Last 8 

Crux Terrestris Corona Ccelestis .... 10 

Victory . . . n 

Easter Morn 12 

The Shadow of the Cross 13 

Perfect through Suffering 14 

De Profundis 16 

Teneo Teneor 17 

Fulfilled 18 

Thy Will be Done 20 

His Benefits 21 

"Forever with the Lord" 22 

" Lo, I AM with Thee" 23 



viii CONTENTS. 

Page 

"Love that Endureth " 25 

" Workers together with Him " . . . . 26 

To Miss Emma L. Upham 28 

Sabbath in the Woods 32 

Looking towards Sunset 34 

Waiting 35 

There is a Gate that Lightly Swings ... 36 

Beyond the Gates ■}>1 

Where 42 

Sabbath Morning 44 

My First Day in Heaven, — What Will It Be? , 45 

Eternity 47 

What Doest Thou Here, Elijah ? .... 48 

" When I Awake I am still with Thee " . . 49 

Three Scrolls 51 

In His Own Good Time 52 

Heavenly Dwelling 53 

Here and There 53 

Nil Desperandum 54 

At Length 56 

Known and Unknown 57 

Life's Aim 58 

AuF Wiedersehn 60 

A Little While 61 

In Memoriam : A. N. S d^ 

Mighty Lord, all Lords Excelling ... 64 

"Praise Waiteth for Thee" 65 



CONTENTS. ix 

Page 

Father in Heaven, Bend 5 

National Thanksgiving ^-o 

One Thing is Needful . 



God's Promise ^ 



69 

Invitation . 

70 

Missionary Hymn 

The Name of Tesus . 

-' •••.... 72 

Memorial Poem 

IZ 

The Resurrection and the Life 

Threnody ^ 

'' IcH MocHTE Heim " (Sighing for Home) . . .82 

Fruition ... o 

04 

Things Unutterable g^ 

Unforgotten ... o^ 

05 

Requiem ^^ 

Marching On o 

G. A. R. (1865-1871) ','. Jo 

Pro Patria 

A Century's Weaving 

Tempest-Tossed ... ^o 

9» 

Life .... 

99 

When ? . . . 

102 

Veiled .... 

103 

Over the Drifted Snow jq5 

Refining ,„^ 

••••.. 100 

The Voyage 

Semper Idem o 



X CONTENTS. 

Page 

Spring Song 109 

Happy Hollow . . . - no 

Under the Pines in 

The Voices of the Rain 112 

Bring the Ploughshare out 113 

P. P. P . . . . . .115 

My Lover 115 

Jack in the Pulpit 116 

Sunbeam, Bright Sunbeam 118 

Heliotrope 119 

Bright Biue Eyes . . . ... . . 119 

Summer's Coming 120 

The Rose's Secret. ....... 121 

Sweet Weather Bird 122 

Summer Wind 123 

The Fairy's Message . 124 

Night on the Ocean . 125 

On the Heights -. . » 127 

March of the Storm King ...... 128 

Anniversary Greeting . 129 

Autumn 130 

Mount Willard 131 

October . . . . 132 

Heralds of Dawn 132 

In Memoriam : L. B. . . . . . . . 133 

The Best Christmas Gift 133 

A Song of Songs 134 



CONTENTS. XI 

Page 

Falling Leaves 135 

Winter Morning 136 

Die Reise 137 

In Memoriam : R. G 139 

The Golden Lyre 140 

Only 142 

January 143 

Drifting . 143 

Sonnet 144 

The Peace Jubilee 145 

Scribendum 146 

Thanksgiving Hymn 147 

Sunset Rock 148 

Ode 149 

Jubitee Poem 150 

September 156 

Beautiful Fancies . 157 



ASSURANCE. 



ASSURANCE. 

It may not come to us as we have thought, 
The blessed ponsciousness of sins forgiven ; 

We may not hear a voice that shall proclaim 
Our title clear to the sweet rest of heaven ; 

We may not see a light upon our path, 
Above the brightness of the noonday sun, 

Whose radiance shall reveal our names enrolled 
As ransomed by the Lord's Anointed One. 

Not thus may the sweet knowledge come to us, 
That all is well with us forevermore ; 

Not with a flash of glory on the soul 

Do all pass into life through Christ, the door ; 

But, like the winter merging into spring. 

Or, gently, as the trees put forth their leaves, 

May come to us the impulse of that life 

Which God bestows on those sin truly grieves. 



2 COASECRA TION. 

If we are conscious of a firm resolve 
To follow Jesus as our constant guide ; 

If in prosperity, or in distress, 

Our hearts cling closely to the Crucified; 

If we are not ashamed to have it known 
That in His service is our chief delight ; 

Though we may never feel the ecstasy 

Which those attain who reach the mountain height ; 

Yet, if the hour of secret prayer be sweet, 
When we hold converse with a friend Divine, 

And dear the time when with His own we meet, — 
For us the promise stands, " They shall be mine." 



CONSECRA TION. 

The glad surrender has been made, 

We are the Lord's ; 
And Heaven, that owns the ransom paid, 

The vow records. 

His own ! bought at a mighty cost 
And sealed with blood, 

No longer wandering blind and lost, 
But sons of God. 



VIA CRUCIS. 

His own, His own ! O wondrous grace 

That led to Him ! 
We see the Sun of Righteousness, 

Earth lights grow dim. 

We own His power whose love unknown 
Has conquered hate, — 

Our hearts, our lives, to Him alone 
We consecrate. 

Henceforth, rejoicing, Christ we own 

As Lord and guide ; 
The loving, pure, and changeless One, 

The Crucified. 

Trusting the promise of His word, 

We shall prevail ; 
The grace of our ascended Lord 

Shall never fail. 



VIA CRUCIS. 

" Through great tribulation." 

Earth's discipline of suffering, 
O strange and fearful m'ystery ! 

All down the years are echoing 
Thy sad, sad tones, O Calvary. 



PALM BRANCHES. 

But this I know, most surely know, 

Sorrow and I have never met 
But, on the cloud that wreathed His brow, 

A glowing cross of light was set. 

Each joy that makes my life more bright 
Tells of thy triumph, Calvary ; 

Because of thy darkness, I have light ; 
Because of thy conflict, victory. 

And thus I learn that joy and woe, 

Trials, and strength to conquer wrong, 
Given to us while here below, 
■ But swell the final triumph song. 

And whosoe'er would win at last. 

And share thy joy, Eternity, 
Must take the way that Jesus passed, 

Gethsemane and Calvary. 



PALM B RANCHES. 

Scatter them now for the Saviour's feet, 
Victory's symbols with joy replete ; 
Offerings for the Redeemer meet, 
Fair palm branches. 



NAZARETH FLOWERS. 

Scatter them wide with a loving heart, 
Hasten and cover each dusty part 
Of the road He travels, with thoughtful art ; 
Bring palm branches. 

Sing, as He passes, a triumph-song 
Of truth over error, right o'er wrong ; 
Oh, eager, surging, exultant throng. 
Strew palm branches ! 

Sing hallelujah ! the Christ has come ; 
Sweet hallelujah ! earth is His home ; 
Loud hallelujah ! no voice be dumb ; 
Strew palm branches. 

Scatter afar for the Saviour's feet 
Palm branches green with their odors sweet ; 
Offerings of love for Him most meet, 
Fair palm branches. 



NAZARETH FLOWERS, 

Lately, as one of the passing hours 

Held up a page and bade me read, 
I saw there written, " Nazareth Flowers," 

And my thoughts flew backward with wondrous 
speed, — 



6 NAZARETH FLOWERS. 

Backward, along the track of years, 
To the far creation's earUest dawn , 

And saw, 'mid joy-light and sorrow's tears, 
Fair flowers, springing as time rolled on. 

And I marked this well, that never a place 
Could I find so dreary, or dark, or lone, 

But that some blossom showed its face 
With a beauty and sweetness all its own. 

They bloomed on the crimsom fields of strife, 
And hid with their beauty the steps of death ; 

And through the wild defiles of life 

Was wafted along their fragrant breath. 

Unscorched by the flames that upward rolled, 
When a martyr-soul was borne to heaven, . 

Unblighted, in beauty manifold, 

They rose in the darkness, lightnnig-riven. 

No wondering fancy is this that tells 
Of starry blossoms and fragrant flowers, 

For rich is the hymn of praise that swells 

From countless hearts through countless hours. 

O Nazareth Child ! whose love has given 
These blossoms to mark the pilgrim's way ; 



CHRISTMAS CAROL. 

O Rose of Sharon ! O gift from heaven, 
Thyself a fairer flower than they. 

Lo ! all along this path of ours 
Thy promises uplift their flowers, 

Fragrant with hope of a heavenly home, 
Of' a glorious fruitage sure to come. 

Sure ! for heaven's honor is at stake ! 

And every pledge of God to men, 
Given unto them for " His name's sake," 

In Christ is yea, in Him amen. 



CHRISTMAS CAROL. 

Ring, ring, ye Christmas bells ! 
Ring out in joyful sweetness 
All the wonderful completeness 
Of the Christ-life unto men. 
Ring out the starry glory, 
Ring out the angel story 
Of peace, good-will again. 

Ring, ring, ye Christmas bells ! 
Ring out in hallowed chorus 
To ages yet before us 
Good news of Christmas-time ; 



AT LAST. 

Until in every dwelling 
The Redeemer's praise is swelling, 
And blending with your chime. 

Ring, ring, ye Christmas bells ! 

Ring out the joy of giving, 

Of pure, unselfish livmg, 

With every Christmas morn; 

For heaven to earth seems dearer, 
And God to man is nearer, 

Since Christ the Lord was born. 

Ring, ring, ye Christmas bells ! 

Ring through each century, 

Ring, — till eternity, 

With royal diadem. 

Shall crown, beside life's river, 
As King of kings forever. 

The Babe of Bethlehem. 



AT LAST. 



After the tossing on Time's changeful ocean, 
After the clouded skies, and tempest's rage, 

After the breasting of each wild commotion, 
Waiting for Christ's beloved, safe anchorage, 
Port, — at last ! 



AT LAST. 

After the weary journey through the desert, 
The scorching wind, the sun's unearthly glare, 

The mirage that attracts but to deceive us. 
To find, by waters still and pastures fair, 
Rest, — at last ! 

After the days of suffering and of toiling, 

When anxious cares so oft have vexed the breast. 

To feel, so softly stealing o'er the spirit. 

The long, sweet evening, bringing welcome rest, 
At last, — at last ! 

After the dreary nights and patient vigils. 
The eager watching for the morning's ray. 

To catch a glimpse, amid the purple shadows, 
Of the glad light that heralds coming day. 
Dawn, — at last ! 

After the clash of arms in life's great battle. 
After the foe is vanquished, closed the fight. 

To take the meed for which we long have striven, 
A crown of glory and a robe of light, 
Victors, — at last ! 

After the strife, the glorious victory ; 

After the day's hard toil, the tranquil even ; 
After the dreary night, the flush of morning; 

After a life on earth, a life in heaven ; 
At last, — at last ! 



lO CRUX TERRESTRIS CORONA CCELESTIS. 
CRUX TERRESTRIS CORONA CCELESTIS. 

" E'en though it be a cross." 

An earthly cross in patient meekness bearing, 
The while we wander in this pilgrim land ; 

A heavenly crown of matchless glory wearing, 
Placed on each head by God the Father's hand. 

The heavy cross on earth, — the crown in heaven ; 

The sorrow here, — beyond, the mighty joy; 
The rapture of a soul with all forgiven, 

A blest eternity without alloy. 

It may be that the cross we have to carry 
May bow our very souls to earth with grief, 

And darkly round our path wild clouds may gather, 
While anxiously our spirits seek relief. 

Yet when the gloom is deepest, and the heaviest 
Seemeth to us the cross we have to bear, 

Faith in our Father's love can rise triumphant, 
And show the crown of joy that we shall wear. 

It may be that the cross of suffering 

Is one known only to ourselves and God, 

When strongest love is powerless to aid us. 
Or ease one atom of the crushing load. 



VICTORY. II 

Yet even then one thought may bring us comfort : 
He knows our grief, for He has felt the same ; 

His spirit has been bowed in deepest anguish, 

Who claimed the " Man of sorrows" for His name. 

Oh, blest those hearts who know the depth of sorrow, 
For they shall know how great the Father's love ; 

For consecrated grief shall draw them nearer, 
And make them meeter for their home above. 

Then let the gloom around our spirits gather, 
Let every earthly joy and comfort flee ; 

Blest be the cross, though heavy, that shall bring us 
" Nearer to thee, my God, nearer to thee." 



VICTORY. 
I Corinthians, chapter xv. 

Victory ! 
Over the strongest forces death could wield. 
Over the strongest bars his power had sealed, 
There stands recorded in that book sublime, 
Unblurred by footsteps of the passing time, 

Through storm and ruth 

Keeping its youth. 
This grand, eternal, and Christ-proven truth. 



12 EASTER MORN. 

Victory ! 
One more soul- conqueror in life's final hour 
Over the King of Terrors' utmost power ; 
One more to prove throughout eternity 
The blessed truth of Christ-won victory, — 

Conqueror through Him, 

Whom angel, seraphim, 
Shall praise until the light of heaven grows dim. 

Victory ! 
O joy untold, to know that victory ! 
O rapture infinite. His face to see. 
Whose glory makes eternity so bright 
That its remotest ages know no night; 
Sometimes a breath 
Severs the clouds beneath. 
The glory shines a moment through, — we call this 
death. 



EASTER MORN. 

Birthday of immortality, 

O radiant Easter-morn ! 
Thy light, thy life, are risen 
From night and death's dark prison, — 

Their sepulchre forlorn. 



THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. 1 3 

Glad hope of all the ages past, 

O joyful Easter-morn ! 
God's promises fulfilling, 
The heart's wild tumult stilling 

With peace Divinely born. 

On thee sin's power was vanquished. 

Triumphant Easter-morn ! 
For at thy dawning hour 
Christ rose in glorious power, 

And death was put to scorn. 

Reflect His praise forever, 

O glorious Easter-morn ! 
Thy resurrection glory 
Be theme for joyful story, 

For millions yet unborn. 



THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. 

If all my way on earth were bright 

And joyous as could be, 
I might forget the home of light 

That waits for me. 

If earthly riches manifold 
Were given unto me. 



14 PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING. 

I might forget the crown of gold, 
The crystal sea. 

If never earthly ties were riven, 
Perchance I might not think 

That there is friendship known in heaven 
With breakless link. 

And so the all-wise Father sends 
A shadow o'er life's dreams; 

And heaven, because of sainted friends, 
More lovely seems. 

And, as we toil and struggle hard 

While in this vale we live, 
How soul-inspiring the reward 

That Heaven shall give ! 



PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING. 
John X. I, ir, 15; Heb. ii. 10. 

" Perfect through suffering." 

A crimson light 
Rests on thy portals, O eternal life ! 
There Christ and Satan met in deadly strife ; 

The conflict done, 

Life, life was won 



PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING. I 5 

For us, and perfect peace ;. 

Behold the sight, 

O doubting soul, and bid forever cease 

AH thy vague questioning. 

"Perfect through suffering." 
O righteousness! 
Was there no other way to enter in .'' — 
No other way to break the bars of sin t 
No way but these 
Heart agonies, 
Borne by the sinless One ? 
O holiness ! 
O love ineffable, that far outshone 
Our faint imagining ! 

"Perfect through suffering." 
O Calvary 1 
Thy cross is glorious with forgiving love ; 
Thy voice of triumph thrills the hosts above ; 
Eternity 

Shall cease to be, 
Ere dies the wondrous song 
That tells of thee, 
And with the lengthening ages grows more strong 
In rapt rejoicing ! 

" Perfect through suffering." 
To us is given 



1 6 DE PRO FUND IS. 

To know the sacred fellowship of pain \ 
Soul purity at any cost to gain ; 
Oh, let the thought, 
He faltered not. 
Nerve us to battle on, — 
Till, earth-bonds riven, 
In perfect liberty each wears the crown 
Of Heaven's bestowing. 



DE PROFUNDIS. 



O Lamb of God, whose earthly life 
Was one long vale of shade. 

With darkening clouds of sorrow rife ; 
Whose path was made 

One weary pilgrimage of grief, — 
Oh, give relief ! 



'5 fc>' 



Thou who alone canst tell how deep 

The darkness of the way ; 
What monsters through the shadows creep, 

What spectres stay, 
And in their dreadful, clinging grasp 
The soul would clasp ; 

O Lamb of God ! let Calvary 

And all its suffering. 



TENEO TEAEOR. 1/ 

Its deiDth of untold agony, 

More closely bring 
Thy suffering children to Thy side 
Who for us died. 

Oh, if a prayer can move Thy heart, 

If Thou canst hear our cries, 
In pity rend the clouds apart, 

And let our eyes 
Behold Thee, Sun of Righteousness, — 
Else life will cease. 



TENEO TENEOR. 

" Simply to Thy cross I cling." 

I SEE, as ne'er before, 
The all-sustaining power of grace Divine ; 
The arch of peace now spans this soul of mine. 

The storm at length is o'er. 

Bowed low in agony, 
And sorely grieved, I sought the Saviour's feet ; 
There I found comfort, and a love replete 

With tenderness for me. 

No other help I need 
To bear whatever cross His love may send ; 



1 8 FULFILLED. 

Sustained and guided by this Heavenly Friend, 
I shall be strong indeed. 

Each cup of sorrow given, 
Each bitter disappointment that I meet, 
Shall make more dear, and beautiful, and sweet, 

The heritage of heaven. 

I trust in God alone, 
And lay my hand in His. He knoweth best 
The way to lead me to eternal rest, — 

"His will, not mine, be done," 



FULFILLED. 



Dark was the night. 
Tossed into fury, waves were rolling high ; 

No light 
Of moon or star within the midnight sky. 
God spoke, the mariner to cheer, 

" Lo ! I am here, 
And I will guide thee ever with mine eye." 

A scorching sun 
Blazed overhead, the sand was hot beneath ; 

And one 
Walked o'er the desert, breathed its fiery breath. 



FULFILLED. 1 9 

But hark ! the pilgrim soul to cheer, 

" Lo ! I am here, 
And I will be thy shade," Jehovah saith. 

The battle raged 
Around, before, behind, on every side ; 

Fierce waged 
The conflict was, deep ran the crimson tide. 
God spoke, the soldier's heart to cheer, 

" Lo ! I am here, 
And I will be thy buckler true and tried." 

A crushing load 
Was given a human heart to bear ; 

The road 
Was rugged, and the very fields were bare. 
God spoke, the troubled one to cheer, 

" Lo ! I am here, 
This heavy burden I will help thee bear." 

Unpardoned sin 
Kept in a wild turmoil an anxious breast. 

Within, 
As yet, had entered not the Heavenly Guest. 
God spoke, the weary one to cheer, 

" Lo ! I am here, 
Come unto me, and I will give you rest." 



20 THY WILL BE DONE. 

THY WILL BE DONE. 

'Tis easy for the soul, when hope's glad light 

Beams on us from above, 
When life is very beautiful and sweet, 

To trust a Father's love. 

'Tis easy when the pathway lies 'mid flowers 

That open to the sun, 
When birds sing sweetly to the passing hours. 

To say, "Thy will be done." 

'Tis easy when the heart is filled with joy 

No word can ever tell, 
With thankfulness to own His ruling hand 

Who " doeth all things well." 

But when the gathering clouds of trouble rise, 
And our joy's sun grows dim, 

Can we reach upward 'mid the deepening gloom, 
And cling in faith to Him ? 

Our hearts are lonely now, and very dark 

The way that lies before ; 
Our souls spring forward to rejoin the loved 

Upon that other shore. 

We would not wish them back, O Father, no ! 
We ask not this, not this I 



HIS BENEFITS. 21 

We would not that earth-mists again should cloud 
Their light of perfect bliss. 

We ask that Thou shouldst teach, who only canst, 

Each deeply stricken heart 
That 'tis a Father's ever tender love 

Keeps but a while apart. 

A little while, and then with them to share 

The Christian's great reward ; 
To enter on our faith's inheritance, 

" Forever with the Lord." 



HIS BENEFITS, 

Psalm ciii. 2. 

Uncounted as the stars that thread the darkness 

With interlacing rays, — 
They brighten in our lives ; we feel their beauty, 

And yet forget to praise. 

Father in heaven, forgive, and for these blessings, 

These benefits of Thine, 
Give grateful hearts, that shall rejoice in sunshine, — 

In shadow not repine. 

Beneath the drooping cloud the grain is ripening 
For garners in the sky ; 



22 fOREVER WITH THE LORD. 

Forget not that He watches till the harvest, 
With never-slumbering eye. 

Never a soul has yet been found so lonely 
But had some blessings left ; 

Never a heart entirely forsaken, 
And of all life bereft. 

Then, O my soul, recount the benefits, 
God-given to thy lot. 

And never more, however sharp the trial. 
Let them be quite forgot. 



''FOREVER WITH THE LORD:' 

We know that somewhere, far beyond our sight. 

That earth-mists veil, 
Standeth our Father's house, whose glorious light 

No shadows pale. 

We know that they whose pilgrimage was spent 

In faith and prayer, 
By matchless grace redeemed and sanctified. 

Dwell ever there. 

We know that fell disease and pangs of death 
Are never known 



LO, I AM WITH THEE! 23 

Among the countless throng who, robed in white, 
Surround the throne. 

We know not, it is true, in what employ 

The hours are passed ; 
We only know they bring a perfect joy 

That aye shall last. 

We know each weary longing of the Christian's heart 

Is satisfied 
When, once within these heavenly walls, he stands 

At Jesus' side. 

And we can feel that he whom Death's swift hand 

Has taken now, 
Sees Him enthroned in glory, whom his soul 

Long loved below. 



''LO, I AM WITH THEE!'' 

Matthew xxviii. 20. 

Father, the way is dark ; 
My soul 
Dreads to go forward, — take my hand. 

And, in Thine own good way, 
Lead me to heaven's unshadowed land, 

Its perfect day. 



24 LO, 2 AM WITH THEE ! 

But, hark ! 
'Mid thunders that above me roll 

I hear a voice 
That makes my burdened, lonely heart rejoice, - 
" I will be with thee till thy life shall end. 
Thy guide and helper, counsellor and friend." 

Father, the way is lone ; 
My feet 
Are weary in the ceaseless round 

Of duties to be done. 
Thick briers overspread the ground, — 

The clouded sun. 

That shone 
So brightly once on life, with joy replete, 

Now veiled and dim, 
Leaves me in shaded paths to follow Him 
Who said, " I will be with thee to the end, 
Thy guide and helper, counsellor and friend." 

Father, the way is long ; 
The hours 
Drag their slow length of lingering pain 

Along the way I take, — 
Calvary ! thy strength my soul must gain, 

Else life will break ; 

Thy song, 
Once learned, the way shall bloom with flowers, 



LOVE THAT ENDURETH. 25 

And sweet and clear 
Shall come to me those helpful words of cheer : 
" Lo, I am with thee till thy life shall end, 
Thy guide and helper, counsellor and friend." 



''LOVE THAT ENDURETH:' 

John xiii. i. 

To believe it is life, 
To feel it is heaven. 

Love that endureth, O deepening rapture ! 

Thrilling the soul-depths with rich melody, 
Bringing the joy of eternity nearer, 
Making the rest of eternity nearer, 

And heaven itself more real to me. , 

Love that endureth, 'tis life to know it, 
Changeless and firm as eternity's throne. 

Fountain of gladness forevermore springing, 

Anthem of ecstasy evermore ringing, 
Oh, what delight to call Thee my own ! 

Love that endureth, no shadows can cover. 

High as the heavens it towers on high ; 
Doubts may not cloud it, nor deep sorrows drown it 
Tested through ages, the present doth crown it. 
Faithful and true as the Lord of the sky. 



26 WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM. 

Love that endureth, which trials but strengthen ; 

Christ-love that brightens this sin-darkened earth 
Joy of the burdened whose sins are forgiven ; 
Theme of the ransomed forever in heaven ; 

Words cannot tell of thy wonderful worth. 

Love that endureth, Oh ! sing of it ever, 

Pilgrim who treadest the heavenly way ; 
Think oft of Calvary's wonderful story : 
Think till thou feelest its love-illumed glory 
Outshine the radiance of earth's brightest day. 



" WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HI Mr 
2 Cor. vi. I. 

Ages ago, in Judea's hallowed land. 

Heaven's mighty Lord came down to dwell on earth ; 
Angelic legions hovered o'er the spot, 

Hailing with joy the great Redeemer's birth. 

For over thirty years He walked with men. 
Sharing alike their happiness and woe ; 

Save sinful anger, and guilt's keen remorse. 
All else He felt that human creatures know. 

Then when His work was finished, ere the cloud 
Received in glory the ascending Lord, 



' WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM. 27 

He spoke : " Go, teach what ye have heard of Me ; 
Lo ! I am with you," as His parting word. 

Children of Zion, haste ! arise, and work ! 

High in the heavens already hangs the sun ; 
The whitened harvest waits the reaper's hand, 

Let not the evening find your work undone. 

Haste ! There are souls now hungering for the truth, 
Hearts yearning for the knowledge of the Lord ; 

Go, tell them of the peace that you have found, 
The rest of perfect trust in Jesus' word. 

Haste ! There are spirits longing, even now. 

To quench their thirst at Heaven's unfailing spring; 

Oh ! seek by kindly word, and earnest prayer. 
To that blest fount their fainting souls to bring. 

Oh ! sit not down with idly folded hands. 
While there is any work for Christ to do ; 

All your life's best devotion cannot pay 

The debt you owe to Him who died for you. 

The work is mighty and the laborers few ; 

Awake ! awake ! and to that work go forth ; 
Remember that a universe of worlds 

Is nothing to one soul's God-given worth. 



28 70 MISS EMMA L. UPHAM. 

Be faithful unto death, thus saith the Lord. 

And I will give to thee a glorious crown ; 
A crown of righteousness adorned with stars, 

A star for every soul to Jesus won. 



TO MISS EMMA L. UP HAM. 

(On the eve of her sailing as a missionary to Burma, 
September, iSSo.) 

I STOOD not long ago within a room 

Whose very air was crowded with the sound 

Of rattling shuttle and of shifting loom, 
And tremulous with motion all around. 

Row after row, frame overtopping frame, 
Until my eyes were dizzy with the sight, 

Stretched the long lines of colors as they came 
Under the weaver's hands, to place them right. 

High overhead, above the weaver's eyes, 
The folded pattern slowly rose and fell, 

And by its strange mysterious traceries 
The work below was deftly done and well. 

This thing I marked, that patiently 

Each weaver in his own place wrought, 

And sought, by ever-constant industry, 
To make reality the master's thought. 



TO MISS EMMA L. UPHAM. 29 

No fretful look, no hard complaint, was there 
Because he gave to this one brighter hues 

And fairer pattern ; not one jealous care 
Or feverish eagerness for himself to choose. 

Patiently, 

Constantly, 
Untiringly, the hosts of weavers wrought, 

Until at length 

In beauty, strength, 
The finished fabric showed the master's thought. 

There is another place where weavers sit. 
Another Master, whose love, boundless, free, 

Giveth to each the place He sees most fit, 
And says, " Sit here and weave for Me." 

Then let us take, 

For His dear sake, 
Tlie place, the pattern, that to us is given. 

And work for him 

Whom seraphim 
Haste to obey through the glad years of heaven. 

We have been working side by side for years 
Because the Master kindly willed it so ; 

Weaving for Him, with mingled joy and fears, 
The pattern that His goodness did bestow. 



30 TO MISS EMMA L. UPHAM. 

We have been happy as we labored thus, 

Seeking to weave the countless threads aright ; 

We have been thankful that He gave to us 
The privilege of toiling in His sight. 

Now unto you the Master's voice has spoken, 
Bidding you rise and take a higher place ; 

Oh ! what a priceless honor is this token, 
Proving the wondrous riches of His grace. 

Hark ! Yet again, in tones so passing sweet. 
The voice of thy high Master now replies, 

" Take now the pattern, and in yonder seat 
Weave it for me in glowing Indian dyes." 

So now we bid you go, our messenger 
To tell the heathen that a Saviour died ; 

Go, show the Gaudama's proud worshipper 
The glorious mystery of the Crucified. 

Go where He bids you, weave as He commands, 
Forever thankful for the honor given. 

Of weavmg into hearts, in eastern lands, 

The message of good-will to men from Heaven 

Weave prayerfully. The power of God alone 

Can keep you day by day and hour by hour ; 
Can melt to penitence the heart of stone, 



TO MISS EMMA L. UPHAM. 31 

Can be your refuge in the darkest hour. 
Weave prayerfully. 

Weave earnestly, nor dally at your post ; 

Think not some better time will come to you ; 
Half-hearted service is as good as lost ; 

Do well whatever comes to you to do ; 
Weave earnestly. 

Weave joyfully. You're weaving for the King ; 

Think of this often, heir of Christ and heaven ; 
Think who has called you to the work, and sing 

For joyful wonder that you are forgiven. 
Weave joyfully. 

Weave for eternity. The time will come — 
We know not when, but it will surely be — 

When the assembled universe shall view 
The life-time weaving done by you and me. 

Go, then, and sitting at the appointed loom. 

Where tropic beauties shine 'neath Burman skies, 

The prayers of countless Christian hearts at home 
Weave, intermingling, with those Indian dyes. 

Old ocean, with its wild, tempestuous winds. 
Its pulsing tides, its hidden mighty powers, 

Is but a grand connecting link that binds 
Forever Burma's distant shores and ours. 



32 SABBATH IN THE WOODS. 

That ocean, lapsing on that other shore, 
Shall bear a kindly thought on every wave, 

While the returning winds shall waft us o'er 

Glad tidings of Christ's wondrous power to save 

Go, labor then for Him, until complete 

The work He gave into your hands shall be ; 

Then lay it down before the Master's feet, 
And reap the glad reward eternally. 



SABBATH IN THE WOODS. 

A DEEPER hush in the forest, 
A sweeter song from the birds, 

And an echo from the distance, — 
A joy unvoiced in words. 

O sacred depth of the woodland. 
Moss-carpeted, dim aisles ! 

What joy to tread thy pathways 
In the light of the Father's smiles ! 

It may be grand to worship 

Where the frescoed chancels rise, 

It may be sweet to listen 
To the choral symphonies ; 



SABBATH IN THE- WOODS. 

It may thrill us with gladness 

lb meet where thousands thronof. 

Bowing before Jehovah, 
Or worshipping in song ; 

But a deeper knowledge cometh 
Of the Lord of heaven's throne, 

When, in the grand old forest, 
The scul meets God alone. 

When, to the farthest \ision, 

Come only the mighty hills, 
With their crowns of glistening granite, 

And the flash of thousand rills. 

Where the trailing moss on the hemlocks, 
That girdle the lone lake shore, 

Bears a message to the spirit 
It has never heard before. 

Then the spirit bows in homage 
To the Maker of wave and sod, 

And the century-laden forest 
Becomes eloquent for God. 



ll> 



34 LOOKING TOWARD SUNSET. 

LOOKING TOWARD SUNSET, 

Life's day lies all behind me, 

The night of death before ; 

The closing hour will find me 

Before that twilight door , 

Whose hinges turn 
Where softly burn 
The starry lights forevermore. 

Has all the day been cloudless, 
Then soft the tints shall die, 
And softly come thy morning, 
O long eternity ! 

Whose days go on 
Without a sun 
To measure hours in passing by. 

Ah me ! have skies been o'ercast 

With mist and passing showers ; 
And hearts, shadowed by forecast 
Of dread for coming hours ? 
Then it may be, 
More radiantly 
Shall bloom for us the heavenly bowers. 

Beyond life's sunset portal. 
Beyond earth's changeful sky, 



WAITING. 

Lieth thy realm immortal, 
O glad eternity ! 

Once let thy light 

Fall on our sight, 
And heaven becomes reality. 

Dawn of perfected splendor, 

Unto thy light is given 
A radiance soft and tender. 
From this blest truth deriven, 
That, partings o'er 
Forevermore, 
No lonely hearts are found in heaven. 



35 



WAITING. 

In the shelter of the harbor. 
For the ceasing of the blast ; 

In the rock-cleft of the mountain, 
Till the storm be overpast; 

In the rush and roar of tempests. 
For the calmness sure to come ; 

In the dreariness of exile, 

For the welcome of the home ; 

In the midnight's starless quiet, 
For the messenger of day ; 



36 THERE IS A GATE THAT LIGHTLY SWINGS. 

In the depth of soul despairing, 
For the strength to hope and pray ; 

In the midst of pain and sickness, 
For the health that comes at length ; 

In the shadow of temptation, 

For the grace that gives us strength ; 

In the gladness of the present, 

For the greater joy to be ; 
In the clay-imprisoning shackles, 

For the perfect liberty — 

Waiting, hoping, trusting, longing, 

As the days on earth go by ; 
What will be thy glad fulfilment. 

Timeless time, eternity ? 



THERE IS A GATE THAT LIGHTLY SWINGS. 

There is a gate that lightly swings 

Between the future life and this, 
Hiding the flash of angels' wings, 

And all heaven's wondrous mysteries. 

Above its arch we mortals read, 

With tearful eyes and trembling breath. 



BEYOND THE GATES. 37 

A name that makes our fond hearts bleed, — 
The terror-striking name of death ! 

Above the arch on glory's side, 

Unshadowed by the mists of strife, 
The holy ones who there abide 

Read the eternal name of life. 

So while we gaze upon the gate 

That now a passing soul receives, 
And say, " He's dead," and sadly wait, — 

The angel welcome says, "He lives!" 



BEYOND THE GATES. 

Memorial Poem, January, 1884. 

When eyes we love have looked their last on earth, 
And nevermore our eager glances greet, — 

When, in the rapture of the heavenly birth. 
The saint redeemed and sinless seraph meet. 

We long, beyond expression, that our eyes 

Behold thy wondrous realm, O Paradise. 

Jerusalem, our home, Jerusalem 

The golden, — pure, eternal, ever blest, — 
Thine are the robe, the palm, the diadem, 

The perfect health, the ecstasy of rest, 



38 BEYOND THE GATES. 

When, in thy deep soul-cahn, eternity, 
The heart is satisfied with Christ and ihee. 

The years on earth roll by ; as each is gone. 

Some who were linked to earth by tenderest bond 

Have left us ; ties were broken ; one by one 
They entered on the life that lies beyond, — 

Their steadfast trust finding fulfilment blest, 

Their weary feet, the pilgrim's perfect rest ! 

The first to prove the full reality 

Of heavenly joys was one whose closing years 
Were passed in shadow ; wdien she came to die, 

She knew not of its terror and its fears ; 
But, as a little child goes to its rest. 
She slept on earth, and woke, forever blest. 

'Mid drifting snows that fled before the wind, 
Swift heralds of the ad\-ent of the spring. 

He who so dearly loved the church did find 
Place in the church triumphant, worshipping ; 

"I love thy kingdom, Lord," on earth he sang; 

" I love thy kingdom, Lord," heaven's chorus rang. 

He knoweth now, better than e'er on earth, 
Of that blest union binding kindred minds ; 

"Grace, everlasting grace," the priceless worth 
Of free forgiveness, now his spirit finds. 



BEYOND THE GATES. 39 

Sing on, blest spirit, in thy joy begun, — 
Sing till eternal ages all are done. 

When March gales fiercely blew upon the land. 
Ere yet the violets bloomed 'neath April skies, 

Transplanted kindly by the Master's hand, 
Our Easter lily bloomed in Paradise ; 

Safe in the everlasting gardens there. 

Death's hand can never touch our blossom fair. 

Amid the countless voices that awoke 

In field and wood, in budding tree and flower, 

Again the angel summons silence broke. 
And sealed another life with closing hour; 

A Christian wife, her record stands secure, 

Among the blest who to the end endure. 

June, radiant June ! when glowed thy opening days, 
Brilliant with prophecy of joys to come. 

Into the life of never-ending praise. 

Into the promised many-mansioned home, 

Where rolls life's river, shines the crystal sea, 

Into God's presence, entered pilgrims three. 

What ! not enough, O death ? Must thou again 
Throw thy dark shadow o'er the summer hours ? 

Must birds' sweet carols have a sound of pain. 
And fairest blossoms seem but funeral flowers ? 



40 BE\'OND THE GATES. 

And must one tie so suddenly be riven, 
Morn spent on earth, and eventide in heaven ? 

The year's high noontide came, and, as it passed, 
One went from us unto that land whose day 

Knoweth no setting sun nor tempest blast, 
Jehovah and the Lamb its light alway : 

Another voice to praise the Crucified, 

Another soul forever satisfied ! 

September, harvest time ! With sharp, quick blow 
The reaper came and took the ripened wheat ; 

Erect and strong at noon, at night laid low, • 
The grain Was garnered, life-work was complete. 

He knoweth now of those deep mysteries 

That lie "beyond the gates" in Paradise. 

Leaves fall and flowers wither ; and, like them. 
Friends fade away. What time more sweet 

Than when the forest's emerald diadem 
Flames into golden and carnation glow ? 

So one more soul, made pure by suffering. 

Obeyed with joy the summons of her King. 

If any thing can make the bright beyond 
More bright, can add unto the bliss 

That ever makes the reunited bond 

Of earthly love and friendship, it is this, — 



BEYOND THE GATES. 4 1 

That the sharp anguish of a piercmg pain 
Can never in that life be known again. 

And when our brother for the first time felt 
The thrill and glow of heaven's eternal youth, 

When low before the throne of God he knelt, 
And worshipped Him in spirit and in truth, 

What wonder then if, next to sins forgiven, 

He praised Him for the perfect health of heaven. 

But, hark ! whose little timid feet are these 
That stand before the city's pearly gate ? 

They never trod earth's thorny wilderness ; 
The guardian angel does not bid them wait, 

But opes at once : " The Master's word," saith he, 

Is, '' Suffer little ones to come to Me." 

'Tis Christmas time ! We give each other gifts, 
And wish each other blessings numberless; 

And the glad memory of Bethlehem lifts 
The heart into a sacred happiness ; 

Another goes from earth to heaven, to prove 

The fuller knowledge of Christ's wondrous love. 

Thus one by one they pass beyond the gates, — 
The aged saint, the child without a fear ; 

Only a litile while the angel waits 

Ere he begins thy record, O new year. 



42 WHERE ? 

The future hides behind a veil of mist, 
And some one's name, — but whose? — shall head the 
list. 

We may be what we will, — God gives the power; 

And days to come will show for what we've striven ; 
The past is gone ; only the present hour 

Belongs to us to use for God and heaven. 
Then keep the past, — it's thine, O memory I 
The future ours and thine, eternity ! 



WHERE ? 



The night is dark around me, 

The starlight fled ; 
The gladness that once crowned me 

Is withered, dead ! 
And 'mid the chilling shadows 

That fill the air, 
I cry, Where is the sunlight, — 
Where ? 

The winter's icy fingers 

Have clasped the earth, 

And all around there lingers 
A frosty dearth ; 



WHERE ? 43 



While trees outline 'gainst heaven 

Their branches bare, 
I cry, Where is the springtime, — 
Where ? 

Life, like a restless ocean, 

Moves to and fro, 
Now stirred to wild commotion, 

Now sad and slow ; 

waves ! as I list to your sighing, 

Voicing despair, 

1 cry. Where is the Father, — 

Where ? 



Somewhere shineth the sunlight 

Without a cloud ; 
Somewhere reigneth the springtime 

With life endowed ; 
Somewhere life's restless surges 

Roll calm and fair ; 
But where is this glorious heaven, — 
Where ? 



God's presence maketh sunlight 

For any soul ; 
His love, perpetual springtime ; 

No storm can roll. 



44 SABBATH MORNING, 

O'er any sky so darkening, 

But that His voice 
Can calm the waves, and bid vx 
Rejoice. 



SABBATH MORNING. 

Heart, my heart, what rapture blest 
Thrills to-day my tranquil breast ? 

Eye, my eye, what holy light 

Beams most glorious on thy sight? 

Is it heaven's o'erarching blue ? 

Is it flowers of every hue ? 
Is it birdling's song at dawn ? 

Is it dewdrops of the morn ? 

Beautiful this world of God, — 

Arching heaven and flowery sward ; 

In the breath of morning sweet. 
Rose and pink in fragrance meet. 

Deeper cause for joy have I 

Than the scenes that round me lie ; 
'Tis the day my Lord hath blest, 

Happy he who shares its rest. 



MY FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN. 45 

Sweeter than the birdling's lay 

Chime the Sabbath bells to-day ; 
Gentler than spring zephyrs mild 

Floats God's peace around His child. 

In my chamber's secrecy 

Doth my Saviour meet with me ; 
While in temples men shall raise 

Unto heaven high songs of praise. 

As the dew, with silent power, 

Raiseth drooping herb and flower, 

Let thy Spirit, Lord, I pray, 
Feed each waiting soul to-day. 

Day of God, I welcome thee, 

Messenger of peace to me ; 
Star of morn and spring of life, 

Rest, amid earth's busy strife. 



MY FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN,— WHAT WILL 
IT BE? 

I OFTEN wonder, thinking of the time 

When for my spirit earth-ties shall be riven, 

How it will seem, within a sinless clime. 
To enter on the first glad day of heaven ; 



46 MV FIRST DA Y IN HE A VEN. 

How it will seem to feel no stinging pain, 
No shadowing sorrow, darkening the life, 

To know that I shall never meet again 

My soul's dread foes upon the field of strife ; 

How it will seem to know that I have won 
The long desired and seeming distant goal, 

To know the weary pilgrimage is done, 

And feel heaven's rapture thrilling in my soul ; 

How it will seem to read in glory's light. 
Backward, the scroll of earth-life's mystery, 

And find my wanderings for aye set right 
In thy fulfilment, O eternity ! 

How it will seem really to see and know 
Immanuel, Jesus, once the Crucified, — 

The diadem of ages on His brow, 

Thousands of seraphim His throne beside ; 

How it will seem, — but all in vain my thought 
Seeks but a single glance within the gate ; 

Faint are the echoes that to me are brought, 
Dim is the light, — I can but watch and wait : 



But watch and wait, and wonder in my heart 
How it will seem to see the gates unfold, 

And pass between them, while they stand apart, 
Safe into heaven, and walk its streets of gold. 



ETERNITY. 47 

ETERNITY. 

Earthly life is but a song, 

'Tis a fleeting mystery ; 
But thy years are very long, 
Eternity ! 

Here the mists come drifting down, 

And the light is hid from me ; 
But no shadows dim thy sun, 
Eternity ! 

Oft the way is sad and lone, 

And the wind sighs mournfully ; 
But thy glories beckon on, 
Eternity ! 

On the fevered pulse of time 

Soon thy kindly touch shall be ; 
There will come a rest sublime, 
Eternity ! 

Tempting voices shall be dumb, 

And all doubts shall cease to be. 
In the infinite To-come, 
Eternity ! 



48 WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH? 

WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH? 

What doest thou, 
In the cave of doubting and unbelief. 

When the Eternal One 
Waiteth to give thy soul relief ? 
The work is done ; 
Go forth 
And stand upon the mountain crest, 
And, trusting, take the promised rest. 

What doest thou, 
In the cave of idleness, to-day, 

When the harvests bend. 
And laborers toil, and hope, and pray 
Until the end ? 
Go forth 
And stand upon the granite hill. 
And there in patience learn His will. 

What doest thou, 
In the cave of selfishness, to-day. 

On a kingly throne 
Demanding that all things help and please 
Thyself alone ? 
Go forth 
And stand where thou canst see displayed 
The deep distress that needs thy aid. 



WHEN I A WAKE I AM STILL WITH THEE. 49 

What doest thou, 
In any cave where thy soul doth hide 

In shame or in fear ? 
No longer in the shadows abide ; 
Thy God is here ! 
Go forth 
And listen to the still small voice ; 
Attend what it commands, obey, rejoice ! 



WHEN I A WAKE I AM STILL WITH THEE: 

When the radiant light of morning 

Brightens in the eastern sky ; 
When the myriad twinkling dewdrops 

On each tree and flower lie ; 
'Mid the glory of the dawning, 

As it falls on land and sea ; 
Heavenward rising, Lord, my spirit 

At that hour would be with Thee, — 
Still with Thee ; 
At each dawning be with Thee. 

As the daylight grows in brightness, 

When meridian splendors glow 
On the dreamy summer woodland, 

Or the winter's ice and snow ; 



50 WHEN I AWAKE I AM STILL WLTLL THEE. 

When light clouds are floating o'er me ; 

When the wind is murmuring free ; 
Floating upward on its pinions, 

Still my spirit soars to Thee, — 
Still to Thee ; 
God and Father, still to Thee. 

As the daylight fades in silence, 

And the bright stars, one by one, 
Twinkle in the clear blue heaven. 

Each upon a golden throne ; 
When the birdling's song is floating 

Linojeringly in bush and tree. 
When its music thrills my spirit. 

Saviour, I would be with Thee, — 
Still wiih Thee ; 
Ever would I be with Thee. 

When the star-gems flash and glisten 

Proudly on the brow of night ; 
When the storm-cloud shrouds the heavens. 

When the lightning flashes bright ; 
Morn, or eve, at noon, or midnight, 

On the land or on the sea. 
In each joy, in every sorrow, 

Would my spirit rest with Thee, — 
Still with Thee ; 
Calmly would I rest with Thee. 



THREE SCROLLS $1 

Still with Thee, O God and Father! 

Would I tread life's toilsome way, 
Trusting in Thy love to keep me, 

Lest my feet should go astray ; 
With my hand in Thine, and striving 

To Thy will conformed to be ; 
Then, when earth-life shall be ended, 

I shall ever be with Thee, — 
Still with Thee ; 
Eternally be still with Thee. 



THREE SCROLLS. 

To each one entering on life 

A triple scroll is given, 
Whereon to write our acts and words, - 

Our inmost longings even. 

One scroll in our own hearts we keep. 

One in the world at large ; 
One at the court of Heaven supreme 

God's justice has in charge. 

So let us live, that when at last 
The scrolls shall be unsealed, 

And to the assembled universe 
Their contents be revealed, 



52 IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME. 

It shall be ours to hear pronounced 
The welcome words, " Well done ! 

Co-regents with the Eternal King, 
Possess the promised throne. 



IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME, 

In His own good time, 
And own good way. 

He will lead from darkness 
Into day ! 

His sheltering arms. 

And tender care, 
Are round his children 

Everywhere ! 

How can we despair, 
When such a friend 

Has promised to keep us 
To the end ? 

'Tis sweet to believe, 
Whatever may come. 

The way that He guides us 
Leadeth home. 



HERE AND THERE. 53 

And, better than all 

That earth can give, 
Is to know that He loves us, 

And, trusting, live ! 



HEAVENLY DWELLING. 

Heavenly dwelUng, flowers unfading 
Bloom beneath thy wondrous light ; 

Trees of life the banks are shading 
Where the ransomed walk in white. 



Heavenly dwelling. Oh, to enter 
On thine everlasting rest ! 

Oh, to reach that blissful centre, 
Salem, city of the blest ! 



HERE AND THERE. 

Here, to love awhile and then to sever, 
To find one's idols made of only clay ; 

There, where joy and peace flow like a river, 
To live and love, one glad, eternal day. 

Here, to watch our loved ones slowly fading, 
And know the hour of parting soon must be ; 



54 ^'IL DESPERANDUM. 

There, where glory shines undimmed forever, 
To know they live, from sickness ever free. 

Oh, blest those hearts which know the depths of sorrow, 
That they may know how great the Father's love, 

For consecrated grief shall draw them nearer, 
And make them meeter for their home above. 

Oh, blest assurance for our comfort given. 

We all shall meet upon that glorious shore, — 

They who have anchored, we who now are sailing, 
Life's restless tossings all forever o'er. 

Guide us, O Father, o'er time's changeful ocean, 

Safe to the haven of eternal peace ; 
Then, when the word shall come, "Let go the an- 
chor ! " 
Our hearts shall hail with joy the glad release. 



NIL DESPERANDUM. 

It may be the sorrows that grieve us 
Are but shadows from the gate 

That is opening to give us 
A joy more true and great ; 



NIL DESPERANDUM. 55 

It may be the long, dark hours, 

That slowly drag along, 
Are only just the prelude 

Coming before the song. 

And what if the gateway's shadow 

Lieth across our way ? 
It will only show that somewhere 

Shineth the light of day. 

And what if the song of a lifetime 

Is set to a minor key ? 
'Twill merge at last into gladness 

And wonderful melody ! 

And He that stands at the gateway, 

Opening and shutting at will, 
In sunshine or in shadow 

Cares for His children still. 



'Tis a Master's hand controlleth 
Life's hidden harmonies, 

And death is but the changing 
From minor to major keys. 



56 AT LENGTH. 



AT LENGTH. 

Patience ! the tempest cannot last forever ; 

The storm will cease, the light will surely come ; 
God's children cannot drift into "the never," 

That vast, vast ocean where all hopes are dumb. 

Whene'er the soul shall pierce the storm's dark centre, 
And find the fiercest winds and loudest gale. 

Let this thought, with its wealth of comfort, enter, — 
The end is near ; His word can never fail. 

No swirl of sudden, terrible temptation 
Can ever cut the links that bind to Him ; 

No sense of seeming utter desolation 

Can crush our faith, even though its light grow dim. 

No tempest on our souls can beat with power 

So terrible as that in which the life 
Of the Incarnate found its closing hour, 

Surrounded, darkened, in a dreadful strife. 

And for that He has known the fiercest gale 

That ever beat upon a human soul, 
Trust in Him fully, — He will never fail, 

But safely pilot to the destined goal. 



KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. S7 

KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. 

When slumber leaveth on the care-marked forehead 

His seal of peace impressed, 
And for a little while the anxious spirit 

Tasteth a longed-for rest, — 
Whether the morrow's dawn shall find us pilgrims, 

Or saints before the throne. 
Upon whose gaze shall break heaven's radiant morning; 

Is all unknown. 

But this we know : the eye of Israel's keeper 

Is never closed in sleep ; 
The Lord of Hosts hath never need of resting, 

'Tis He that guards His sheep. 

Whether the pathway given for our treading 

Be shadowy or bright ; 
Whether the crosses given for our bearing 

Be burdensome or light ; 
Whether to us uncounted friends be given, 

Or we be left alone. 
Saving the Friend who ever lives in heaven, 

Is all unknown. 

But this we know : His grace is all-sufficient 

To light the darkest day ; 
His arm omnipotent will safely bear us. 

Over the roughest way. 



58 



LIFE'S AIM. 



Safe to those mansions in the Father's dwelling 
Waiting each ransomed one, 

Where the glad chorus is forever ringing, 
" Knowing as we are known." 



'fc) 



Then let us leave, with loving trust, the future, 

With all its hopes and fears. 
Its golden opportunities for labor. 

Its smiles and tears, — 
To Him whose eye beholds the lapse of ages 

As but a single day : 
Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, 

Changeless for aye. 



LIFE'S AIM. 

" What is the aim of iife? 
Why do we struggle here? " 



Oh, wherefore do we struggle here, 

With weary heart and hand ? 
Why ceaseless toil amid the scenes 

Of time's dim border land ? 
Oh, why ! What is the end we seek, 

The prize we strive to gain ? 
Whose image nerves the soul to bear 

Earth's discipline of pain ? 



LIFE'S AIM, 59 

'Tis happiness for which we strive, 

The goal to which we press, 
Its Hght within the future gleams 

In starry loveliness. 
With eager hands we strive to reach 

And grasp the glittering prize ; 
Yet, as we move, still farther on 

The radiant vision flies. 

Still, wearied with the vain pursuit. 

We pause amid the strife, 
And ask our souls the question oft, 

" What is the aim of life ? " 
And just as often the reply 

Comes to each wondering one, 
" To teach the heart to bow to Him 

Who sits on heaven's throne." 

For only as the soul shall learn 

Obedience to His will. 
Can we in patient faith and love 

Life's noblest aim fulfil ; 
And, learning this, the soul shall know 

A deep, abiding joy ; 
The "troubled " life shall feel a calm 

Earth-cares cannot destroy. 



6o AUF WIEDERSEHJSr. 

AUF IVIEDERSEHN. 

When weary, and worn, and lonely, 

We wish that morn were night ; 
When the hopes we fondly cherished 
' For a while are hidden from sight, 

There whispers soft to the spirit 

A voice, and 'mid our pain 
We feel a thrill of comfort : 

" Auf wiedersehn." 

When the thunder of the ocean 
Dies on the lonely shore. 

From the dim blue of the distance, 
Coming forevermore, 

Bringing reluctant memories 
Into my heart again, 

I hear in the lapse of the breakers, 
"Auf wiedersehn." 

When the last brown leaf of autumn 
Has fluttered down to earth. 

And the flowers all lie slumbering. 
Waiting the springtime's birth ; 

When the winter's sceptred silence 
Lies on the hill and plain, 

I read in the snowy crystals, 

"Auf wiedersehn." 



A LITTLE WHILE. 6 1 

When the rose of life has faded, 

And death has set his seal, 
Till the resurrection morning 

All secrets shall reveal, — 
When we yearn with speechless longing 

Life's mysteries to explain, 
Oh, thy breath of soulful meaning, 
" Auf wiedersehn ! " 



When we stand with glad exultance 
On the shore of the bright beyond. 

And feel the new life throbbing. 

And renewed each severed bond, — 

Then hearts shall thrill with rapture 
That now pulse with a living pain : 

O eternity, eternity, 

" Auf wiedersehn ! " 



A LITTLE WHILE. 

A LITTLE while to watch the daylight streaming 
In golden radiance from the ether blue ; 

A little while to see the sun in setting 

Encircled round with clouds of every hue. 

A little while to watch the twilight deepen : 
A little while to see the stars aglow •, 



62 A LITTLE WHILE. 

A little while to watch the pale moon gleaming ; 
A little while to hear the night wind blow. 

A little while to watch the brightening glories 

That usher in the ever-welcome day; 
A little while to watch the rainbow splendors, 

And then to see them swiftly pass away ; 
A little while to watch the changing seasons, 

As on they roll with varied beauties dight, — 
Spring's opening buds and summer's radiant flowers, 

Autumn's drooping leaves and winter's frosty blight. 

A little while, with doubts and fears surrounding. 

To tread our pathway through ihis vale of tears ; 
It may seem long, and yet indeed, 'tis truly 

A little while at most, though it be years. 
A little while to dream of joys awaiting, 

A little while to see them fade away ; 
To feel that all upon this earth is fleeting. 

And know the dearest object may not stay. 

A little while to watch, and wait, and linger. 

Where hopes so oft deceive the trusting soul ; 
A little while, with spirit worn and weary. 

To press on toward our life's far-distant goal ; 
K little while to muse upon past hours. 

To cherish memories of the days long flown, 
While one by one our friends are taken from us, 

And we are left to struggle on alone. 



IN MEMORIAM. 63 

A little while to sail upon life's ocean, 

Our barques oft tossed about by wind and tide ; 
A little while to brave their wild commotion, 

Then safe within our destined port to ride ; 
A little while to utter words of kindness ; 

A little while to do our deeds of love ; 
A little while to cheer a brother's pathway, 

And help him onward to his home above. 

There is a morn whose fadeless glories brighten 

As year by year eternally flows on ; 
And in that country which its rays enlighten, 

Christ's chosen ones each wear a starry crown ; 
For they who trusted in His hand to guide them, 

Who struggled on through trials, doubts, and fears, 
And who a little while on earth did serve Him, 

Shall sing His praise above through endless years. 



IN MEMORIAM: A. N. S. 
March 5, 1883. 

We know not how near us lieth 
The kingdom of which we sing ; 

No eye of mortal descrieth 
Its palaces or its King ; 

Yet the heart that loves it sigheth 
To behold it, worshipping. 



64 MIGHTY LORD, ALL LORDS EXCELLING. 

We sing of its wondrous glory, 
We tell of Its rapturous song, 

Whose theme is the ' old, old story," 
That never grows old, nor long. 

We talk oft with one another, 

Of home and the homeward way ; 

We say that unto our brother 
The summons has come to-day. 

Now, from earth-cares removed. 
Crowned prince of God, forever 
He walks beside thy river, 

O kingdom that he loved ! 



MIGHTY LORD, ALL LORDS EXCELLING. 

Mighty Lord, all lords excelling. 

Throned in never-paling light. 
Hear us from thy heavenly dwelling, 

God of everlasting might ; 
Endless praises. 

Great Jehovah, are Thy right. 

Praise to Thee whose hand has wielded, 
For Thy people's good, Thy power ; 

Whose unbounded love has shielded 
In each dark and trying hour. 



PRAISE WAITETH FOR THEE. 65 

We would praise Thee 
For Thy mighty love and power. 

Children of the King of heaven, 

Heirs to Salem's bright abode, 
By a grateful offering given, 

Let us mark the year for God. 
Let us praise Him 

For the way our fathers trod. 

Mighty God, preserve our nation, 

Keep it ever true to Thee ; 
Let Thy glorious salvation 

Cover it, as waves the sea. 
Hear and answer. 

So forever let it be. 



PRAISE WAITETH FOR THEE. 

For thy mercies freely given, 
Hourly, as we pass along ; 

For the glory that awaits us, 

We would wake the grateful song, - 
Praise is waiting. 

Lord, in Zion now for Thee. 

For thy guardian care protecting. 
Watching us by night and day ; 



66 GOD'S PROMISE. 

For thy arms of love enfolding, 
That we may not go astray, — 
Praise is waiting, 
Lord, in Zion now for Thee, 

For the friends we fondly cherish, 
For the joys our spirits know. 

For the hours of sweet communion 
We have held with Thee below, — 
Praise is waiting, 

Lord, in Zion now for Thee. 

For the greatness of salvation, 
For Thy word that tells Thy love, 

For the gift of Christ our Saviour, 
Praise shall fill the courts above, — 
Heaven shall echo 

Grateful, ceaseless praise to Thee. 



GOD'S PROMISE. 



Earth's firmest pillars may be riven, 
Her deep foundations shake. 

Yet He who made the earth and heaven. 
His word will never break. 

Pledged by His own eternal name. 
There stands, forever sure. 



FATHER IN HEAVEN, BEND. 6/ 

The promise that His watchful care 
Shall make His saints secure. 

Rejoice in Him, heaven's lofty King, 

Ye whom He makes His own ; 
Let your glad hearts an offering bring 

Of praise before His throne. 

Guided and kept by power Divine, 

Your song should ever be. 
Thanks unto God for all His gifts, — 

Praise Him eternally. 



FA THER IN HE A VEN, BEND. 

Father in heaven, bend 
To us a listening ear, 
And kindly condescend 
Our feeble prayer to hear. 
In Jesus' name. 
Thy only Son, 
We humbly come, 
And blessin2:s claim. 



't)" 



All powerful art Thou, 

Weak and defenceless we ; 

Strength for the hour of need 
We come and ask of Thee. 



6S NATIONAL THANKSGIVING. 

Be Thou our stay 
In danger's hour, 
When dark clouds lower, 

And hide the way. 

All merciful art Thou : 

O Father, hear our cry, 
And send, to heal our hearts, 
Thy Spirit from on high. 
To Thee we come : 
Oh, guide us through 
Each joy and woe. 
To Thee at home. 



NATIONAL THANKSGIVING. 

Hail, Jesus, sweetest name in song, 
A Prince and Saviour Thou ; 

With joy Thy people hither throng, 
And in Thy presence bow. 

All hail that kind, preserving power 
By which the nations stand, 

That safely, to this happy hour, 
Has brought our native land. 

Let all who have Thy name professed. 
And owned Thee as their king. 



ONE THING IS NEEDFUL. 69 

In north and south, and east and west, 
A grateful offering bring. 

Lord Jesus, hear Thy people's prayer, 

And speed the joyful day. 
When loyal subjects everywhere 

Shall own Messiah's sway. 



ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, 

One thing is needful, 
O sinner, for thee. 
To guide thee in safety 
O'er life's troubled sea. 
To anchor thee safe when the journey is -done, - 
'Tis heart-faith in Jesus, the Crucified One. 

Chorus : 

One thing is needful, — 
'Tis faith in the name 
And mighty atonement 
Of Calvary's Lamb. 

When death-shadows gather, 

And earth-scenes grow dim, 
Thy soul will be friendless 
Without faith in Him ; 
'Twill perish in night, with its sin unforgiven, 
Forever debarred from the pleasures of heaven. 



yo INVITATION. 

Then haste and secure it ; 

Time passes away, 
And danger attends 
Every hour of delay ; 
'Tis free unto all who His grace will receive 
But one thing is needful, 'tis "only believe." 



INVITA TIOJV. 



Come, weary sinner, with grief oppressed. 
Sin-burdened spirit longing for rest ; 
Voices from Calvary 

Evermore call for thee, 
Tenderly, lovingly, — 
Come, sinner, come. 

Come to the Saviour, do not delay; 
Leave there thy sorrow, bear joy away ; 
Come to the Crucified, 

Wash in the crimson tide, 
'Twas for thee Jesus died, — 
Come, sinner, come. 

Linger no longer; soon, daylight past, 
Shadows will deepen round thee at last; 



MISSIONARY HYMN. /I 

Come ere the night shall fall, 

List to the Saviour's call, 
Come yield to Him thine all, — 

Come, sinner, come. 



MISSIONARY HYMN. 

Air, " The morning light is breaking." 

Ye soldiers of Jehovah, 

Attend His high command ; 
He bids your conquering legions 

Possess the promised land. 
Then forward to the conflict. 

The battlefield is broad, 
And be your rallying watchword, 

Humanity for God ! 

The helmet of salvation. 

The Spirit's mighty sword. 
The shield of faith unfailing. 

The promise of the Lord ; 
Take these and wage the conflict, 

Remembering this word, — 
The whole wide world for Jesus, 

Humanity for God ! 

The foe is ranged before you 
In dread and stern array ; 



72 THE NAME OF JESUS. 

But God shall battle for you, 
And you shall win the day. 

Then forward to the conflict, 
Nor sheathe the Spirit's sword 

Till you can sing in triumph. 
Humanity for God ! 

Till from earth's thronging millions 

One rapturous song shall rise. 
In praise of free redemption 

To Him who rules the skies ; 
Till every hill and valley, 

Throughout the world so broad, 
Reflects the glorious tidings. 

Humanity for God ! 



THE NAME OF JESUS. 

O Jesus ! sweetest name 

By saint or seraph sung. 
The never-failing theme 

Of heaven's enraptured throng. 
O Jesus ! with praises 

We would surround Thy name. 
Who, through the changing ages, 
Art evermore the same. 



MEMORIAL POEM. 73 

No mortal ear can take 

That wondrous sweetness in, 
Till grace Divine shall break 
The power of reigning sin; 
Then, Jesus, with praises 

We will surround Thy name, 
Who, through the changing ages, 
Art evermore the same. 

When Salem's pearly gates 

Receive our weary feet. 
And we behold, at last. 

Our rest and joy complete, — 
Then, Jesus, with praises' 

We will surround Thy name. 
Who, through the changing ages, 
Art evermore the same. 



MEMORIAL POEM. 

(Read by the author at the annual New Year's concert, Sunday 
evening, Jan. 10, 1886*) 

Each year of life we pass a dozen gateways 

That in succession rise ; 
And one by one the gates are closed behind us. 

Till, in a dazed surprise, 

* Miss Heath, the author of these poems, died after a brief ilhiess, Jan. ig 1S86. 



74 MEMORIAL POEM. 

We stand upon the threshold of the last one, 

And realize how near 
We are to entering on the joys and sorrows 

Of one more earthly year; 
Then, with twelve clanging strokes, the iron gate 
Of history is barred, and we the future wait. 

The journey we have made has known no resting, 

And sometimes it has been 
That friends we fondly loved stopped at some gate- 
way. 

And we alone went in ; 
And, as we heard the closing of the portal, 

We looked for them in vain, 
And felt that only in the realm immortal 

Should we behold again 
The loved companions of earth's pilgrim way, 
Whose love made sunshine for us day by day. 

O January ! as the gate swung to behind us 

That closed thy history, 
Some hearts sat in the shadow, striving 

To pierce death's mystery. 

And February, lo ! thine earthly portals, closing, 

Seemed but an opening door 
Leading into that place wherein the people 

Know suffering nevermore. 



MEMORIAL POEM. 75 

March, April, — as God's sure recording angel 
Wrote down, in words of light. 

Death's seeming conquests, I could hear resounding 
The victor's song of might. 

May, as the flower-wreathed gateway slowly parted, 

And earthly summer time 
Bade spring good-by, and in its beauty taught us 

God's love fills every clime ; 
It told our hearts the grander, noble truth 
That Heaven bestows a never-failing youth. 

June, July, August, — soft as dew at twilight 

Closed each successively. 
And through the deep blue of the summer heaven 

This message came to me, — 
That God, the " Lord, is mindful of His own," 
And each shall find, at last, the promised throne. 

September, September, with crimson bars and golden I 

October shut the gate. 
And gave the keys in charge to Heaven, awaiting 

The sure award of fate. 

October, — when the frost-touch made thy closing 

Bright as star-points on high, 
On leafless boughs the resurrection story 

Is written for each eye. 



76 MEMORIAL POEM. 

And lest in thy bleak shadows, O November ! 

Our hearts should faint and fall, 
The Lord has graven on thy portal's archway 

His promise for us all. 

Behold, the keystone of thine arch, December, 
A radiant Christmas morn. 

And angel music ringing through the ages. 
For Christ the Lord was born ! 

Dear be thy memory ever, 

O year just gone ! 
Thy days of strong endeavor. 

Thy conquests won ; 
Dear, as sometimes we cherish, — 

Lovingly, long, 
Though tones themselves may perish, — 

Echoes of song. 

We give them to thy keeping, 

O sacred past ! 
The countless recollections. 

The treasures vast 
Of love, and tender caring 

That once we knew ; 
Henceforth, our hearts be sharing 

Thy peace, de<ip, true. 



MEMORIAL POEM. yj 

O heaven, home for the homeless ! 

The thought of thee 
Glows star-like, and we follow, 

Thy joys to see. 

Lo ! as the pathway shortens 

That lies before,^ — 
Beyond the strange, dark river 
That earth from heaven doth sever, 

Faith sees thy shore. 

Heavenly home, dear heavenly home, 

Paradise of God's elect, 
From eternity designed, 

He Himself thine architect, 
Chy of eternal peace, 

Brighter far thy towers gleam 
Than night's constellated hosts, 

Or the noon's unclouded beam. 

Thou wilt give to all the blest, 

Glittering robe and diadem : 

City of eternal rest. 

Heavenly home, Jerusalem ! 

Somewhere, amid the life-years that are given, 
One gateway stands apart ; 

We know not where it is until we enter, 
And feel it chill the heart. 



y8 MEMORIAL POEM. 

Against this portal beat the cries, unceasing, 

, Of mothers for their own, 
Who somehow slipped from loving grasp, and vanished 
Into the great unknown. 



Around it throng the heart's deep, eager yearnings 
Once more to feel and know 

The mother's love, the daughter's true affection. 
Home's sunshine here below. 



Once more to trust and own a father's guidance, 
Once more to hear the voice 

Of that loved sister, in whose cheerful presence 
The heart could so rejoice. 

As I left one gate behind me, 

And felt it gently close, 
In the tender hush that followed 

The voice of prayer arose. 
Telling the Lord — and He listened — 

How dark the way had grown. 
And how hard it was to travel 

Life's pathway all alone ; 
Ye who rejoice to know the journey over, — 

Friends cherished, tried, and true, — 
Can ye not feel the love that reaches ever 

Upward from us to you ? 



THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. 79 

When through the deepening gray of earth's long twi- 
light, 

Night scatters treasured gold, 
Our thoughts seek for you, O dear ones departed ! 
As in the days of old. 

Against thy portals, O eternity ! they are ever beating, 

Our yearnings deep and fond. 
And evermore come back to us, repeating, 

Beyond, beyond, beyond ! 



THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. 

When, 'mid the darkening gloom of grief-made shad- 
ows, 

The heart sits down alone, 
It sighs to think how far into the future 

Those shadows have been thrown ; 
And howsoever long may be the pathway 

Before we reach the end, 
It seems to lie beneath a clouded heaven 

That close above doth bend ; 
And, somehow, life's joys never seem to show 
The same bright side to us we used to know. 

Far down the lengthened stretch of changeful ages 
A voice speaks tenderly, 



80 THE RESURRECTION. 

Telling all hearts of death's great Vanquisher, 

And immortality. 
Listen ! It speaks ! " I am the Resurrection." 

joy ! O ecstasy! 

The Lord of life, Divinity incarnate, 

Has conquered death for me ! 
For me, and all whose life is hid with Him, 
The centre of adoring seraphim ! 

"I am the resurrection, Jah, — Jehovah, 

1 am the life divine ! 

No power, in earth or heaven, shall dare to sever 

Those from me who are mine ! 
Mine, while eternity's unending ages 

Roll onward evermore ; 

And mine, until God's own existence ceases, 

And heaven is no more ; 
Mine, in the glorious fulness of that word, 
" I am the resurrection," saith the Lord. 

Hearts that are lonely, let this wondrous message 

Come with a freshening power ; 
And let the hand of faith draw back the curtain, 

For but a single hour. 
That veils from human eyes the home celestial. 

And let the faint heart gaze, 



THRENODY. 8 1 

And, with the sight take courage to go forward, 

And meet the coming days, 
Until, beyond all sorrow, sin, and strife, 
It knows "the Resurrection and the Life." 

And now, in memory of those whose presence 

We miss this evening hour, — 
Those voices we have heard so oft, repeating 

Heaven's words of mighty power, — 
We deck with loving hands the Old Year's grave. 
And face the New Year's duties strong and brave. 



THRENODY. 

Oh, what am I to the world, 
As it rolls on its tireless way ? 

And what would its teeming millions care 
If I should die to-day ? 

The sun behind the hill 

Sets with a golden glare : 
Should my heart be still ere another night. 

Oh, what would the world's heart care ! 

The winds would roar and rave, 

The ocean ebb and flow ; 
But, if I had passed to another shore. 

The world would not care to know. 



82 '' ICH MOCHTE HEIM.'' 

Let the world go on its way, — 
The sun, and the wind, and sea-, 

There are those whose love is my sun and life, 
Who are all the world to me. 

Let the millions come and go. 

Wherever their way may be ; 
But the chosen few, that my heart enshrines. 

Are world enough for me. 



''ICH MOCHTE HELM'' {SIGHING FOR HOME) 
From the German of Karl Gerok. 

I SIGH for home, to reach the Father's dwelling, 

Where, in His presence blest. 
Away from earth's turmoil, my soul may enter 

On deep, eternal rest. 
A thousand wishes in my heart are thronging. 
Home turn I with an ever-ardent longing, — 
Oh, that the bud of hope might burst ni bloom ! 
I si^h for home. 



•■is' 



I sigh for home, — am weary of thy changes. 

Thou false, deceitful world. 
I sigh for home, — am sated with the pleasures 

Unto thy votaries hurled ! 



" ICH MOCHTE HELM. " ^^ 

While God decrees, I bear the cross He sendeth, 
I wage a conflict that death only endeth ; 
Oft, secretly, I sigh for Him to come 
And take me home. 



I sigh for home, — I saw in blissful vision 

The better fatherland ; 
My portion's there, — in mansions ever shining: 
This is a foreign strand. 
There spring abides ; the birds with joyous singing, 
Homeward, oer hill and dale their fiidit are wm^in"- • 
Nought frights them, as the broad free air they 
roam, — 

I sigh for home. 

I sigh for home, — when, as a child, I wandered 

Far off in thoughtless play, 
The joyous moments all too quickly vanished 

Of life's young gala day. 
When in each eye joy's starry light was beaming, 
From merry hearts of nought but pleasure dream- 
ing, 
Turning from purple fruit and golden honeycomb, 

I long for home. 

I sigh for home, — the ship now seeks its haven. 
The brooklet seeks the sea ; 



84 FRUITION. 

The infant in its mother's arms lies shnnbering, 

Rest soon will come to me. 
Many a song I've sung in joy and sorrow, 
Like whispered words forgotten ere the morrow : 
One thought is present wheresoe'er I roam, — 
I sigh for home. 



FRUITION. 



For us, to w^atch the changing lights and shadows 
That fleck the pathway of our earthly life ; 

For them, to gaze, with spirit-eye enraptured. 
On that blest morn with fadeless glory rife ; 

For us, to watch the shadows as they deepen, 
And shroud in gloomy folds the sunlight's ray; 

For them, the " brightness of the Father's glory," 
Who for His loved makes one eternal day ; 

For us, to walk by faith the w^ay before us, 
The while we inly shrink from the unknown ; 

For them, to join the chorus of the ransomed. 
Forever with the Lord, before the throne. 

No more for them to mingle in the conflict. 

Theirs, the deep joy that comes with victory won 

Ours, yet to wait until we hear the summons : 
" Lay down the armor and receive the crown." 



UNFORGOTTEN. 85 

THINGS UNUTTERABLE. 

There are thoughts that never find expression, 
Feelings that sway the soul too deep for speech ; 

Beauties that rise in infinite progression, 

Towering beyond the seraph's utmost reach ; — 

Nought but the Infinite has comprehension 
Nought but Divinity can give them birth ; 

Oh, what a wondrous gift of condescension ! 
Omnipotence has come to dwell on earth. 



UNFORGOTTEN. 

Violets, blue violets ! 
Lying upon the swaying grass, 
Speaking in fragrance to all who pass, 
The tender greeting of May to June, 
As twilight crowns the afternoon 

With the sunset gold. 

Violets, blue violets ! 
Sad are the memories that rise 
While the deepening hue of the evening skies 
Telleth of rest ; as the shadows fall, 
Long-silent voices, I hear ye call, 

As in days of old. 



S6 REQUIEM. 

Violets, blue violets ! 
Ye may fade as ye lie on this sacred spot ; 
But ye breathe in your dying, " Forget them not, 
Who brought, untarnished through the war, 
Our nation's blue, with never a star 

Gone from its fold." 



REQUIEM. 
September 19, 1881. 

Toll, — toll, — 
Bells of Columbia ! 
Throb out the mighty grief ; 

Our noble chief, 
After the hours of agony. 
After the burning fever, sleeps at last 

Beside the sea. 

Toll,— toll,— 
Bells of Columbia ! 
Breathe forth upon the air 

A nation's prayer; 
A nation's loving sympathy 
For her who sits in sacred sorrow now. 

Beside the sea. 



REQUIEM. Sj 

Toll, — toll,— 
Bells of Columbia ! 
Bear to that mother-heart, 

I'hat sits apart. 
Message of comfort and of peace 
From Him who walked in Galilean shades 

Beside the sea. 

Toil, — toll,— 
Bells of Columbia ! 
While, to its long, long rest, 

Those he loved best 
Slowly, and reverently, 
Shall bear the cherished form the spirit left, 

Beside the sea. 

Toll, — toll,— 
Bells of Columbia ! 
But not for him, for him 

Whose eyes are dim 
To earthly scenes and pageantry ; 
Ours is the sorrow, his the heavenly joy, 

Beyond Time's sea. 



MARCHING ON. 

Another mighty army is gathering at the North ! 
Each loyal State is sending her many thousands forth ! 



88 MARCHING ON. 

They are rallying 'round the standard of our nation at 

her call, 
And a fervent love of country nerves their spirits, one 

and all, 

As they go marching on ! 

Their hearts have ne'er forgotten the voice that Sum- 
ter spoke, 

When its sounds, in awful thunders, on the startled na- 
tion broke ; 

Its echoes still are lingering 'round the homes of lib- 
erty. 

And wake an answering chorus in the spirits of the 
free, 

As they go marching on ! 

Down in Virginia's valleys, where Potomac's waters 

glide. 
Lies many a gallant soldier, who bravely fought and 

died ; 
A nation's love is circling, like a halo, where he lies. 
While above are brightly arching the sunny, southern 

skies, — 

No more he marcheth on ! 

But, 'mid far distant mountains full many a circle 
mourn 

For fathers and for brothers, who will nevermore re- 
turn : 



MARCHING ON. 89 

For other hands than loving ones their resting-places 

made, 
And stranger eyes are gazing on the spots where they 

were laid, 

When ceased their marching on ! 

Each soldier's heart is beating with a purpose firm and 
high, 

As he thinks of this rebellion, — to conquer it or die ! 

His cheeks are brightly glowing, and proudly flash his 
eyes, 

Whene'er he thinks of Donelson's or Macon's victo- 
ries, 

As he goes marching on ! 

And when the thought comes o'er them how the noble 

Lyon fell, 
E'en to the last contesting for the cause he loved so 

well, 
They sternly grasp their rifles and rush onward to the 

field, 
Resolved, that while life lasteth, they will never, never 

yield, 

But still go marching on ! 

Each brow is flushed with anger, when they think how 

Ellsworth died, — 
So young and noble was he, our nation's pet and 

pride ! 



90 G. A. R. 

Yet his spirit was the first to leave this treason-tainted 

strand, 
And put on heavenly armor in that bright, that better 

land, 

And there he marcheth on ! 

May God protect our brothers, in the camp or in the 

field, 
And be, as He has promised, the soldier's strength and 

shield ; 
Be with them through the contest, return them to their 

friends, 
And guide them to that city where pleasure never ends , 
There ever to march on ! 



G. A. R. {1865-187 1) 

" Should auld acquaintance be forgot? " 

Can we forget those long and weary marches, 
Through tangled forest and o'er sandy plain ; 

Those swelling rivers, and the craggy mountains, 
Whose steep ascents we oft have toiled to gain ? — 

The roar of cannon, and the smoke of battle, 

The dread, shrill screaming of the bursting shell ; 

" Close up the ranks," — the hasty order given, 
We might not linger then to see who fell ; — 



PRO PATRIA. 



91 



The fierce assault, and the wild shock of onset, 
The fearful "bayonet charge," the leaden showers ; 

Then the j^roud moment, when our starry banner 
Floated in triumph, — and the day was ours. 

The burial of our fallen friends and comrades. 
The sentry's beat, the morning bugle call. 

And all those scenes through which we toiled and 
waited. 
And then the glorious end that crowned it all. 

Oh, the deep joy that thrilled each soldier's spirit. 
When, like a lightning" s flash, from corps to corps, 

'Mid glad huzzas there passed the glorious tidings, 
" Lee has surrendered, — and the war is o'er ! " 

Can we forget ? Oh, never, comrades, never ! 

Sacredly cherished shall the memory be 
Of all who battled for our country's honor, 

But most of those who died for Liberty. 



PRO P ATRIA. 

A CIRCLE of flags that flutters 
In the shifting summer breeze, 

Where the walls of the silent city 
Rise 'neath the dark pine trees. 



92 



PRO P ATRIA. 

Within that sacred circle 

Only the tall grass waves, 
And only buried memories 

Lie in the clustered graves. 

Yet, somewhere, there are lying 

Forms that once wore the '• blue," — 

Noble, and brave, and daring, 
Who died for me and for you. 

In depths of the shadowing forest, 

Or on sun-beaten plain, 
Or beneath the rivers' flowing, 

Are the nameless graves of our slain. 

We may not deck with flowers 
Those graves, afar, unknown ; 

We may not rear above them 
The gleaming marble stone. 

But never, while thou livest, 

O faithful memory ! 
Can we lorget our brothers 

Who died to keep us free. 

And thus for our fallen heroes 

Who rest in their nameless graves, 

The " red, white, and blue " is floating 
Above where the tall grass waves. 



A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 93 

And every wavering shadow 

Faileth upon some home 
Where hearts call, in the silence, 

For those who will never come. 

If there be one spot more sacred 

Than another to my heart, 
'Tis where those flags are waving 

On that circle, set apart. 



A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 
I STOOD within a land where time had ceased. 

Where change, decay, and death ne'er met the eves 
And backward gazed on years where time increased 

The space between the two eternities. 

I saw, as in a mighty vision, then, 

God's strange, mysterious dealings all made clear; 
How, sometimes, gloomy clouds o'ershadow^ men, 

That rainbowed love more radiant might appear. 

I saw how, sometimes, in His wise decrees. 

The saints of earth languished in dungeons lone ; 

How truth, enchained, cried out in agonies. 
And wrong, triumphant, gloried in a throne. 



94 A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 

Yet, somehow, in the light that filled my soul, 
I felt that all was good, and well, and right ; 

And read, as in a God-illumined scroll, 
His darkest plans in characters of light. 

I saw how the world's destinies were woven. 
As nations moved, like shuttles, to and fro, 

Until, at length, the vast work was approven, 
And Heaven's seal set on the work below. 

I gazed upon the pattern, till m}^ eye 

Wonderingly sought for some one to explain 

Why, of all time, that single century 

Still held me bound, as by an iron chain. 

A dark green background, as of forest pines, 
Upon whose surface, all too plain, and clear, 

War's dread design was drawn in crimson lines, 
Whose awful meaning thrilled the soul with fear. 

And while I gazed, in reverent silence, down 
Where Heaven had written out its mystery, 

Like bugle blasts adown the ages blown, 
I heard a voice proclaiming " Liberty ! " 

] saw a rare, sweet flower spring into life 

Upon the battle-field of Lexington ; 
I saw men urged on to a stern, hard strife. 

And thousands moved as but a single one. 



A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 95 

I saw, not far off, where that same sweet flower 
Appeared once more, on Bunker's glorious height ; 

Where er it bloomed it brought a saving power, 
And tyrant-sovereigns trembled with affright. 

I watched it long, till, in its mighty strength, 
Tested and proved by battle scourge and flame, 

Fulfilling God's good purposes, at length, 
The blossom past, the time of fruitage came. 

And what a glorious harvest then was reaped 
By all the land, from north to southern shore ! 

It more than paid for all they had endured. 
Now scarcely thought of, since it all was o'er. 

I saw those noble men as, one by one, 

They signed their names, and, with their names, their 
lives ; 
And men looked on in wonder when 'twas done, — 

That daring act, whose glory still survives. 

And long as stars flash forth God's mighty power, 
Long as the moon reflects His praise to earth. 

So long His honor be known in that hour 
That told the world what liberty was worth. 

I saw the years move slowly on their way. 
Their finished web rolled safely in the past ; 



96 A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 

Ready to be inspected in that day — 

The end of all things — that should come at last. 



Across the centre of the pattern there 

Flashed a faint crimson from the northern heaven, 
That died away, as smoke-wreaths fade in air, 

And to loved peace again the crown was given. 

And here and there, upon the background woven, 
Were noble deeds, and brave self-sacrifice, 

By whose proud record to the world is proven, 
He serves his God who for his country dies. 

The web is almost done ; but see, Oh, see ! 

The fierce red hue that gleams about its close ; 
The lands convulsed in awful agony. 

And brothers are the stern, contending foes. 

Oh, those were dreadful times ! Men's hearts 

Grew sick with dread, and well-nigh ceased to beat. 

As o'er the wires there swept, by fits and starts, 
Victory's huzza, or groanings of defeat. 

Again, — as at the first, — I heard a voice 

Ring like a clarion over all the land, 
Bidding all men in freedom to rejoice, 

And striking oft' the chains from every hand. 



A CENTURY'S WEAVING. 97 

And now the thread is severed, — it is done, 
The century's weaving, whatsoe'er it be, 

Beneatli God's eye, finished, as 'twas begun, 
Changeless throughout a whole eternity. 

I stood alone but now unto my side 

An angel came, and said to me, " Behold, 

It is thy native land, whose history 

Thou hast beheld before thine eyes unrolled." 

I stand now in a place where time still moves, 
And God's high purposes move grandly on ; 

Each, in its turn fulfilled. His power proves, — ■ 
Another century's weaving is begun. 

Eternal God of nations, Mighty Power, 
Whose thought can comprehend eternity, 

Oh, hear the prayer we offer at this hour. 
The opening of another century ! 

Let not the thunder-laden cloud of war 

Come o'er the sky and drench the land with blood ; 
But let the sun of peace shine down afar. 

Where mountains tower, or rolls the river flood. 

Long as Atlantic tides break into foam. 
And calm Pacific meets the golden shore, 

Let richest blessings crown our native home, 
Our country, our whole country, evermore. 



98 TEMPEST-TOSSED. 

TEMPEST- TOSSED. 

White-plumed riders are on the sea, 
Winds are whistling wild and free, 
The cold gray clouds are closing down. 
The black rocks face, with awful frown, 
The angry sea. 

With reeking decks and flapping sail. 
Right in the teeth of the coming gale, 
Saileth a craft, and hark the cry, 
*' Ship ahoy ! " but there's no reply, 
O wild, wild sea ! 

I have heard thy moan before, O sea ! 
I have heard a message before from thee ; 
But never yet, as I trod thy shore. 
Has such a vision been wafted o'er 
As this, O sea ! 

Wave after wave, wave after wave. 
One dies, and the next treads on his grave ; 
And thus, from the far-off, darkening hue. 
White plumed riders on steeds of blue 
Come o'er the sea. 

And the speck of a sail on ocean's rim 
Sinketh into the distance dim ; 



LIFE. 99 

What shall I see at the dawn of day, — 
A ship at anchor in the bay ? 

Or, a wreck at sea ? 



LIFE. 

I AM sitting alone and listening 
To the winds that whistle by, 

While the clouds are drifting onward 
In the distant, distant sky. 

And like clouds now o'er my spirit 
Come thoughts still drifting on. 

That memory's winds are blowing 
From days forever flown. 

And one is tinged with crimson, — 
A reflection from the sun, 

That once upon my pathway 
In glorious radiance shone. 

Oh, the life we live is wondrous, 
A strange, mysterious thing ! 

With its happy hours, 

Like myriad flowers 
In their radiant blossoming. 



;00 LIFE. 

With its shadows and sunshine, light and shade, 
And its dew that falls upon the head. 



Oh, the life we live is fleeting. 
And short is the longest one ! 

It comes and goes, 

It ebbs and flows. 

In its vague unrest. 

Like the ocean's breast. 
When the moon o'er the wave has gone. 

Oh, the life that we live is changing ! 
A wild and a wayward thing, 

With its hours of light. 

And shades of night 
That the rolling years do bring; 
'Tis a fickle thing, this life of ours, 
Yet ofttimes the way is bright with flowers. 

Oh, the life that we live is secret, 
Unseen by human eye ! 

There are sorrows deep, 

That o'er us sweep 
In a wild, tumultuous tide. 

And joys so sweet 

We sometimes meet, 
That they seem all griefs to hide ; 



LIFE. 10 1 

And we live, as it were, a double life, 
With peaceful spots and fields of strife. 

Our life has been called a journey, 
A river, that onward flows, 
A tree, with leaves and flowers of hope, 
An ocean, that ebbs and flows ; 

We walk the road. 

We sail the stream. 
And we twine a garland bright 

Of the budding leaves 

And opening flowers 
That unfold in our spirit's light. 
Oh, wondrous and strange is the life we live. 
And great the pleasure that life can give ! 

'Tis a strange, strange thing, this life we live, 
This feeling, and willing, and doing ; 

This ever some end, for good or ill, 
With all our might pursuing ! 

Oh, the life that we live is noble, 
A high and a lofty thing ! 

With affection's fires, 

And pure desires. 
And upward aspiring. 
Oh, a noble thing is this life of ours. 
And mighty indeed are its magic powers ! 



I02 WHEN? 

Oh, the life that we live should be holy, 
And sacred to the Giver! 

Then, when mortal breath 

Shall cease in death, 

We may cast each crown 

Before the throne. 
And worship Him that sitteth thereon, 
Who liveth forever and ever. 



WHEN? 

When shall the storm, now drifting 

Darkly over the sky, 
Be changed to the blue dome, lifting 

Itself so pure and high ? 
When ? 

When shall the darkness, lying 

Over the earth to-night, 
Feel, in the flush of dawning, 

The coming of the light ? 
When ? 

When shall the springtime waken 
The brook, and bird, and flower, 



VEILED. 103 



And earth's dull clod be shaken 
With resurrection-power? 
When? 

When shall the hopes we cherish 
Bloom with radiant life, 

And, beyond revival, perish 
Hatred and bitter strife ? 
When ? 

When shall we read the future, 
Its treasures fully know ? 

When shall the far off " sometime 
Change for us into now ? 
When ? 



VEILED. 

Amid the thronging millions 
Who tread the earth to-day, 

Amid the burden-bearers 
Who toil along life's way. 

However close the contact. 
Each one must walk apart. 



04 VEILED. 

With a veil forever hiding 
The secrets of the heart. 



The nearest and the dearest 

To pierce this covering fail ; 
The truest and sincerest 

Before its secrets quail. 
The closest ties that bind us, 

The bonds of kindred blood, 
Of one sad truth remind us, — 

We are not understood. 

Beneath the careless jesting 

May lie a purpose strong, 
And the saddest heart may utter 

The strains of gayest song. 
The quiet streams are deepest, 

The proverb truly said ; 
And sometimes people know us 

Only when we are dead. 

Oh, sad, sad truth revealing ! 

O bitter, bitter wail ! 
That love should wait in silence 

For death to rend the veil. 
But yet, perhaps, 'tis better. 

For if our all were known. 



VEILED. 

E'en friendship might be staggered, 
And we be left alone. 

But this truth stands eternal : 

There's One who knoweth all, 
And merciful forgiveness 

Is free to all who call, — 
No heart so prone to wander, 

No life so full of sin, 
But Christ can strengthen, pardon, 

And help it heaven to win. 

We may not judge each other. 

For we can never know 
What sorrow pride concealeth. 

What secrets lie below 
The smiles and pleasant greeting 

We meet upon our way ; 
Who are the sad, who lonely. 

Who joyous-hearted, gay. 

But one thought may give comfort 

In sad or cheerful mood, 
In heaven, the home expected. 

All will be understood ; 
And when, beyond death's river. 

We bow before God's throne, 
Our song shall be forever, 

" Knowing as we are known." 



105 



I06 REFINING. 

OVER THE DRIFTED SNOW. 

Over the drifted snow, 

Out of the crimson west, 
The burning sunset glow. 

Out of the crimson west, 

Over a weary life 
The golden sunset of rest. 

Over a weary life 

The final sunset burns, 
The end of toil and strife. 

The final sunset burns. 

Kindled with glory's light, 
In sacred, golden urns. 



REFINING. 

I STOOD, once, where a furnace fire 

Was burning fiercely white. 
And the crushed ore was melting slow 

Amid the blinding light. 

Back and forth before my eyes 
The steaming dross mist rolled, 

While darkening, and then brightening. 
There lay the precious gold. 



THE VOYAGE. 107 

I watched the hand that patiently 

Tempered the raging heat, 
Until a wondrous brightness showed 

Refining work complete. 

Then purified, the gold was given 

Unto the Master's hand ; 
Fitted at last for noblest use, 

Ready for His command. 



THE VOYAGE, 
Sailing over the ocean 

That lies to the west away, 
Midway of its restless motion 
There's gained, or lost, a day. 
Which shall it be 
For you and me, 
To gain or lose a day, 
As we sail on life's ocean away, away } 

Starting, each eye descrieth 

The roll of the ocean swell, 
But of the point that lieth 
Midway we cannot tell ; 

So, whether, friend. 
We're nearer the end 



I08 SEMPER IDEM. 



Than the starting, we cannot tell, 
On this changing ocean swell. 



Sailing over the ocean, 

All trackless, deceitful, wide, 
Look we, from time's commotion, 
To our unerring Guide. 

However blows 

The wind. He knows 
The only way to the other side, 
Where heaven's shore meets the ocean wide. 



SEMPER IDEM. 



Gold that has safely passed 

The fiercest fire 
Need fear no scorching blast. 

Trees that have stood like rocks 

In storm and gale 
Need fear no tempest shocks. 

Souls that are purified 

By fire and storm 
In conscious strength abide. 



SPRIJVG SONG. lOO 



SPRING SONG. 

Sow, for the April voices 

Call through the springtime air ; 
Earth at the sounds rejoices, 
Gladness is everywhere ! 
Sow, then, the seed, 
If for your need 
Ye would reap a harvest fair. 

Toil, for the summer burnetii 
High in the August dome, 
Golden the harvest turneth, 
Joy of the days to come. 
Toil, ye must toil, 
Sons of the soil, 
If ye hope for a harvest home. 

Reap, for the autumn glory 
Flames in October's sky, 
And like a finished story 
The bending harvests lie. 
Reapers, the call 
Soundeth for all, 
For the hours of daylight fly. 

Rest, for the storm-wind bloweth 
Wild through the winter night. 



no HAPPY HOLL O W, 

Over the earth, he throweth 
Snow like a mantle white. 

Then let him come ; 

Safe in your home, 
Ye defy his strongest might. 



HAPPY HOLLOW. 

Rock-imprisoned lies the valley 
In a hush of dreamless rest, — 

Noiseless, save the timid wood-bird, 
Drowsy, cooing in her nest. 

Fern-lined clefts, within whose shadows 

Nods the pale anemone, 
Blushing faintly, when the sunbeams 

Tell her she is fair to see. 

In the beauty that is given 

When the far blue summer heaven 
Bends above it lovingly, — 

From the mossy crags, there speaketh 
Voice that never silence breaketh ; 

Peace it speaketh unto me. 

When October plants his standard, 
Crimson-barred, with golden crown, 



UNDER THE PINES. Ill 

And the ferns, that waved in beauty, 
Gently lay their banners down ; 

Then, amid the fading glory, 

'Mid the shadows deep, and long, 

Throbs the resurrection story. 

Speaks the victor's triumph song ! 

Springtime, summer, autumn, winter, 

Bursting bud, and radiant bloom. 
Frost and snow, successive crown it, 

Beauty's fairy-haunted home. 



UNDER THE PINES. 

Under the pines this summer day, 
Lying and dreaming the hours away, 
Thoughts, light-winged as the thistle-down, 
On to the coming days have flown. 
Overhead arches the heaven blue, 
Sunlight the pine boughs is glinting through, 
Cloud-shadows creep from mountain crest 
Down to the lakelet's quivering breast. 

Beautiful breeze of the summer morn. 
Fresh from the golden gates of dawn, — 
Beautiful are the thoughts it brings. 
As I list to the rustling of its wings. 



I 1 2 THE VOICES OF THE RAIN-. 

Oh, how I love you, beautiful dreams, 
Glimmer of dew-drops, and music of streams, 
Whispering pines and changing light, — 
Oh, how I love you, visions bright ! 



THE VOICES OF THE RAIN. 

O the voices of the rain ! 
Speaking at my window-pane 

With a tone, 
With a meaning, all their own ; 
O ye memories that come, 
How ye strike my spirit dumb. 
As I hearken to the voices of the rain ! 

O the voices of the rain ! 

How they come, and come again. 

When we sit. 
Ere the evening lamps are lit; 
How we seem to hear once more 
Echoes from the "other shore," 
In the tearful, tender voices of the rain ! 

O the voices of the rain ! 
Telling us of hopes so vain 

Which the heart 
Had in secret set apart ; 



BRING THE PLOUGHSHARE OUT. II3 

But they whisper to us still, 
" God's love may yet fulfil " 
The glad, prophetic voices of the rain. 



O the voices of the rain ! 
What a rapturous refrain, — 

What a song, 
As the rain-drops glide along ; 
The summer-time shall come 
In its beauty to our home, 
And our suuls shall bless the voices of the rain. 



BRING THE PLOUGHSHARE OUT. 
Bring the ploughshare out 
With a merry shout. 

For the glad spring-time has come, 
And then drive it down 
In the earth so brown. 

Where the seed can have a home. 
Then plough, plough away 
Every sunny day, 

Makinor for the seed a home. 



•to 



Lay the seed to sleep 
In its bed so deep, 



114 BRING THE PLOUGHSHARE OUT. 

And cover it o'er with care. 
From the furrows low 
It shall spring and grow 
Into waving harvests fair. 
Then sow, sow away 
Every sunny day, 
For the coming harvests fair. 

Bring the sickle forth, 
Where, above the earth, 

There is wa\-ing, bearded grain 
For the reaper's blow ; 
It has ripened slow 
'Neath the summer sun and rain. 
Then reap, reap away 
Every sunny day ; 
Reap the waving, bearded grain. 

To the mill then go. 
Where the river's flow 

Turns the huge stones round and round ; 
And the waving grain 
From the summer plain 

To the snow-white flour is ground. 
Then grind, grind away 
Every sunny day, 
Till the wheat to flour is ground. 



MV LOVER 115 

P. P. P. 

The deepest aggravation 

In a few words we condense, 
Found in the mood potential, 

And the past perfect tense. 

Third person, neuter gender, 

And singular number, too, 
And you have the story told you. 

In words succinct and few. 

For, if one thing more'n another 

Can annoy both you and me, 
'Tis the perfect past potential 

Of the little verb " to be." 



MV LOVER. 

Oh, fresh and fair as the morning 

Is the face of this love of mine. 
That my heart has crowned in silence, 

Within its secret shrine. 
Often, as shadows lengthen, 

And the glow dies from the vrest. 
He whispers, " I'll tell you something: 

'Tis wordless, — you know the rest. 



Il6 JACK IN THE PULPIT. 

His eyes are of starry brightness, 

His mouth so witchingly sweet ; 
But sweeter the words it utters 

As he comes with eager feet, 
And tells me the sweetest story, 

As the twilight glories dim. 
In his arms he would gladly hold me, 

But he cannot, — so I hold him. 

And, as in the blue above me 

Stars peep in glad surprise, 
I read of a heart that loves me 

In wistfully tender eyes. 
I love him so dearly, dearly, 

He is worth his weight in gold, — 
What's that ? You're jealous ? You needn't, 

For he's only three years old. 



JACK IN THE PULPIT. 

Wee little preacher, in sombre gown. 

Your pulpit curtained with green and red, 

What are the mysteries, that, deep down, 
Are stored away in your tiny head ? 

Fairies are wandering among the trees. 
Are swaying that curtain to and fro, — 



JACK nv THE PULPIT. 

Common folks call it the summer breeze, 
But you and I and the fairies know. 

Better the text that now you take 

Than many a one from the lips of man ; 

And deeper the thoughts that in us wake, 
As you, and your wonderful church we scan. 

What is the preacher? You ask of me, — 
What is the theme on which he speaks ? 

What is the wonderful church I see ? 

What is the word that the silence breaks ? 

The preacher is only a simple flower ; 

The church is the grand old forest dim ; 
And at early morn, and evening hour, 

Rises to Heaven a joyful hymn. 

The critic heareth never a word , 

'Tis stranger than all I have told before, — 
No church is seen, no text is heard, 

Though he tread the pine paths o'er and o'er. 

I've been there oft, in the summer time, 
And when once more the June bells sweet 

Strike on the air their echoing chime, 
Shall you and I in the temple meet t 



l\7 



SUNBEAM, BRIGHT SUNBEAM. 

SUNBEAM, BRIGHT SUNBEAM, 

Sunbeam, bright sunbeam, 

W' hence do you come ? 
Down from the blue sky, 

To gladden your home. 

Rainbow, bright rainbow, 

Answer me now. 
Spanning with beauty. 

The thunder-cloud's bro\v, — 

Tell me, whence cometh 

Thy wonderful gleam ? 
I am as nothing without, 

Without the sunbeam ; — 

Only as sunlight 

The raindrop shines through, 
Can you behold me, 

God's own promise bow. 

Little ones, darlings. 
Whence do you come ? 

Down from God's presence, 
To gladden your home. 

Little ones, darlings. 
Long, long may you be 



BRIGHT BLUE EYES. 1 19 

Heaven's own sunlight, 
For mothers to see. 

And when life's storm-clouds 

Their dark shadows throw, 
Be yours to paint there 

Love's sweet promise-bow. 



HELIOTROPE. 

Tenderly sweet as an angel's thought, 
Into a storm-tossed spirit brought, 

Thy fragrance meeteth the passing air. 
Like trusting accents of loving prayer. 

Wonderful depth of purple bloom, 
Breathing thy life out in perfume ; 

Dear are the memories that rise 

With thy fragrance up to the summer skies. 



BRIGHT BLUE EYES. 

Bright blue eyes that brim with laughter, 
Beautiful eyes that often seem 

Longins: to see some sweet hereafter. 
Blossoming out of a cherished dream. 



I20 SUMMER'S COMING. 

Beautiful eyes alight with wonder, 
Wonders for you have just begun ; 

From the stars above, to the blue seas under, 
Thousands are waiting, little one. 

Thousands are waiting, — your tiny fingers 

Eagerly seek them, little elf ; 
Be for us daily, while childhood lingers. 

Wonder of wonders, your own sweet self. 

Beautiful eyes, flash out your gladness. 
Making the sunlight of our home ; 

Shining away the thought of sadness, — 
What will you see in the years to come 1 

Beautiful soul of childhood, gazing 
Wistfully out of those wondrous eyes, 

Happy in love and the loved one's praising, 
Evermore planning some sweet surprise. 



SUMMER'S COMING. 

I HAVE heard it in the forest. 
Where the branches gray and bare, 
From the sea of pines upstarting. 
Stand like phantoms in the air, 
Ghosts of beauty once so fair ! 



THE ROSE'S SECRET. 121 

I have heard the distant echoes, 
Faint and far, but wondrous sweet. 
Telling that the summer cometh, 
Crowned with ecstasy complete, 
And earth thrills beneath my feet. 

I have seen the tidings written 
In the far blue of the skies ; 
I have heard the brooklet singing 
Softly, 'neath the roof of ice. 
Of the coming mysteries. 

Summer's coming, coming, coming, — 
Speed the news from tree to tree ; 
Clouds of heaven, bear it onward. 
River, tell it to the sea ; 
Summer comes, and earth is free. 



THE ROSE'S SECRET. 

A PINK-TINGED roscbud, nestling 
In its cradle of circling leaves, 
A story of wondrous sweetness 
In its witching fragrance weaves. 

Leaf after leaf unfolding. 
The petals stand apart ; 



122 SWEET WEATHER BIRD. 

Till I gaze in silent rapture 
On the secret of its heart. 

O rosebud ! fairest, sweetest, 
What makes thee passing fair 
Is not the bright-hued petals, 
Nor the fragrance hiding there. 

For out of thy blushing beauty, 
Out of thy fragrant breath, 
Speaketh unto the spirit 
Love, that is strong: as death. 



SWEET WEATHER BIRD. 

In the midst of the forest primeval. 

Where never a sound is heard 

Of the world's busy life and commotion, 

I'm hearing the song of a bird, — 

" Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet," 

And they call it the sweet weather bird. 

See, just on the edge of the clearing, 

Where the hemlock and birch, hand in hand. 

Stand guard o'er the roof of my cabin. 

And the green, moss-carpeted land, — 

" Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet," 

He sings where the tall spruces stand. 



SUMMER WIND. 1 23 

When the gray clouds hang low on the mountain, 

And the slow-dripping rain from the leaves, 

And the low, sobbing wind in the forest 

Are telling that Nature now grieves, — 

Then " sweet, sweet, sweet,'"' 

Sings the bird 'mid the drip of the leaves. 

And so, in the rain or the sunshine, 

The same music ever is heard. 

And I hear a reply from the distance 

To thy challenge, O sweet weather bird ! 

" Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet," 

O wilderness minstrel, sweet bird ! 



SUMMER WIND, 

Summer wind, summer wind, 

Light hearted rover, 
Floating so airily 

Green meadows over, — 

What is the message 

That now thou art bringing, 
Mixed with the music 

Of countless birds, singing? 

Summer wind, summer wind. 
Where art thou roaming, 



124 '^^^ FAIRY'S MESSAGE, 

All of the day, till 

The stars light the gloaming ? 

Tell me the secret 
Old ocean is hiding, 

Tell me of mermaids, 
In deep caves abiding. 

Summer wind, summer wind, 
Light-hearted rover, 

Laden with fragrance 

Of jDurple-topped clover, — 

Enter the chamber 

Where sickness reposes, 

And leave there a message 
From lilies and roses. 



THE FAIRY'S MESSAGE, 

Out in my garden early, 
One sunny April day, 

I saw a little fairy 

All decked in finery gay. 

Dancing, fluttering, bending, 
With diamonds in her hair. 



NIGHT OAT THE OCEAN. 125 

A message to me sending 

From spring-land bright and fair. 

O winsome little fairy, 

In diamond-dotted sheen, 
Sweet is the word you bring me 

From lands where spring has been. 

" She's surely coming hither," 

You signal to me now, 
" With emerald garments trailing, 

And jewels on her brow ; 

" And she will come, my Spring Queen ! 

I'll tell each leaf and flower, 
So, all be watching for her, — 

She may come any hour ; 

" And we must all be listening 

For her footsteps when they pass, — 

This is the word I bring you," 

Said the first green blade of grass. 



NIGHT ON THE OCEAN 

Night falls over the ocean, 
Starlit, serene, and lone, — 



126 NIGHT ON THE OCEAN. 

Still, save the pulsing motion 

Of the waves, with their muffled moan. 

O night ! amid thy shadows 

That o'er the waters roll, 
Did'st know there passed to heaven 

A ransomed human soul ? 

As day in flaming splendor 
Moved slowly down the west, 

Alone, save One, — faithful, tender, 
The Christian sank to rest. 

Night falls over the sea, — 
Day dawneth now for him ; 

Alone ? Nay ; see, for company 
Are saint and seraphim. 

Night falls over the deep ; 

And, while the plashing wave 
Gently rocketh itself to sleep, 

They lower him to his grave. 

For him no prayer is said. 
No choir-chanted strain, — 

No requiem over the sainted dead, 
Save ocean's deep refrain. 



ON THE HEIGHTS. 

ON THE HEIGHTS. 

Where the soul has keenest vision, 

Where its glance can pierce the sky, 
And behold the fields elysian, 

Home of God's eternity; 
Where thought beats its wings no longer 

On the prison-bars of pain, 
But is free as air, and stronger : 

We have met, — meet we again ? 

Where time flies on golden pinions. 

Where the air with rapture teems ; 
Where, like swift obedient minions. 

Throng our heart's most cherished dreams ; 
Where the spirit thrills with gladness 

Mortals rarely can attain, 
High, exultant, spurning sadness, — 

We have met, — meet we again ? 

Where the soul's ambition boweth 

To Omnipotence alone, 
And where genius, crowned, avoweth 

Loyalty to Heaven's throne ; 
Where soul speaks to soul forever. 

Where the echoes wake " amen," 
Thought to thought responding ever, 

We have met, — meet we again ? 



127 



28 MARCH OF THE STORM KING. 



MARCH OF THE STORM KING. 

I HEARD the march of the Storm King 
As he passed over sea and land, 

And I saw the clouds roll onward, 
Hurled swift from his mighty hand. 

I heard the hoof-beat clatter, 

As the hailstones flew abroad. 
And I knew that the tempest's chariot 

Bore a messenger of God. 

I saw in the vivid lightning 

The flash of his piercing eye, 
And the noise of the hosts that followed 

Was the thunder rolling by. 

And the trumpet-blast waxed louder, 
Till heaven seemed cleft in twain, 

While down from the heights of cloud-land 
Poured the rivers of the rain. 

With shriek, and roar, and thunder, 

With a host past numbering, 
Over the world at midnight 

Rode the regal Tempest King. 



ANNIVERSARY GREETING. 1 29 

ANNIVERSARY GREETING. 
To Rev. S. F. Smith, D.D. 1834-1884. 

I STAND amid the brightness 

That floods life's radiant noon, 
The morning's dazzling whiteness 

Has flushed to gold so soon, — 
As thoughtful, tender memories 

Around my spirit throng, 
I mind me of my leader 

To the wondrous land of song. 

What though between us stretches 

A life's long afternoon, 
And my lay faintly echoes 

His grander, nobler tune ? 
Yet gladly now I bring him 

The few bright laurel leaves 
That I have won, and lay them 

Among his golden sheaves. 

There is a land where, living:, 

Time is not in days and hours, 
Where perfect love is giving 

The poet grander powers ; 
Where thoughts that burn within him, 

Clay-shackled in the past. 



I30 



AUTUMN. 

Clothed in celestial language, 
Expression find at last. 

When the glad hour cometh 

That speaks thy spirit free, 
And heaven becomes forever 

A blest reality ; 
Then shall a sweet, new music 

Ring from the crystal sea, — 
" Jerusalem, the golden, 

My country, 'tis of thee ! " 



A UTUMN. 



Barberry clusters, flushing scarlet, 
Hang amid the thorny green 

Of the bushes by the roadside. 

Where September's hand has been. 

Robes of crimson deck the forest. 
Diamond flashes gem the vale. 

Golden plumes are proudly waving 
Where the summer glories pale. 

Know ye not, a thousand beauties 
Sleep amid the field and lake. 



MOUNT WILLARD. 1 3 

Till the spring-time kiss of greeting 
Shall those magic slumbers break ? 

Wondrous scenes of transformation, 

New life springing from the old, 
Types of resurrection glory, 

Circling years for aye unfold. 



MOUNT WILLARD. 

YE flitting mountain-shadows ! 
So sadly, strangely sweet, 

1 would rest me in your presence 
Where the cliif and forest meet. 

O ye flashing mountain-torrents ! 

Let me share your life and glee : 
Take the cares and troubles from me, 

Bear them onward to the sea. 

My spirit, filled with wonder, 

Feels the grandeur of the hour, 
And bows in silent homage 

To the great creative Power. 
O ye mountanis, how ye thrill me ! 

Before you I am dumb : 
Types of the great Eternal 

Mystery's shadowy home. 



132 HERALDS OF DAWN. 

OCTOBER. 

All rainbow-robed thou comest, matchless time, 

Earth's gladness pulses, voices, everywhere ; 

The wondrous sunshine of the autumn air 
Is burning, flashing in thy perfect prime, 
Like some entrancing story told in rhyme ; 

And beautiful far, far beyond compare. 

The forest dim, the earth's unspoken prayer, 
That gives us strength to loftier heights to climb. 
O rare October! I can bring thee here 

No added splendor; unto thee alone 
Belongs the fealty of all the year ! 

The scarlet garniture, the crown, the throne, 
Symbols of royalty, for thee appear; 

In thee the fleeting months their sovereign own 1 



HERALDS OF DAWAL 

The heralds of the dawn, — from cloud to cloud, 
From mountain peak to mountain peak, they haste, 

And plant the royal standard. 
Then from the golden gateway of the morn 
Day's glorious sovereign comes, and earth is glad ; 
His emerald robe sparkles with jewels, 
And he smiles a greeting to the day 

In flowers, and speaks in song. 



THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT. 1 33 

IN ME MORI A M : L. B. 
April 15, 1884. 

Spring blossoms fade and die, and summer flowers 
Droop, one by one, as days and weeks go by ; 
But when the year's glad resurrection powers 
Thrill earth and air, again they greet the sky ; 
They hear the call, each answers, " Here am I." 
And thus we never miss the last year's bloom, 
For wind-sown beauty lives above its tomb. 
But when the oak-tree falls, a place it leaves 
That circling months and years behold there still ; 
And sadly then the whole wide forest grieves. 
To miss that presence from the wind-swept hill, 
And decades multiply, ere shall arise 
Another monarch of the centuries. 



THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT. 

I HAVE often wondered, as Christmas time 
Broke in its beauty upon the earth. 

And choral chant, and bells' sweet chime, 
Spoke to the world of a Saviour's birth, 

Which was the dearest and sweetest gift 
That friend to friend had ever given ; 

What could the soul of the giver lift 

To a height that was nearest God and heaven .? 



134 A SONG OF SONGS. 

It could not be the glittering gem, — 
The light that flashes is clear and cold ; 

Far richer than royal diadem 

Must be the treasure this gift shall hold. 

It could not be the empty word, 
The wish that so many idly say ; 

Many a heart has ached as it heard 
The joyous greeting of Christmas day. 

But richer, dearer, and better far 

Is the best of Christmas gifts to me ; 

It has caught thy gleam, O wondrous star ! 
Of Bethlehem's sacred mystery. 

And in the light that comes adown 
The weary ages from heaven above, 

I read that, of all earth's gifts, the crown 
And glory is this, — the heart's best love. 



A SONG OF SONGS. 

When the heart is gay, and life is sweet, 

And we tread a flowery way, 
When in cheerful tones our friends we greet, 

And glad hours wing the day, — 



FALLING LEAVES. 135 

We laugh and sing as the spirit wills, 

And we care not what the sons:. 
So that its power our being thrills, 

As we mingle amid the throng. 

The sweetest song that a mother sings 

(And sweet is her every song), 
Is the one she sings to a suffering child 

When the hours of night seem long. 

And the song one hears in the time of woe 

Is the dearest one by far ; 
For what do we care, when all heaven's aglow, 

For the light of a single star t 

But when storm-racks drift above the soul 

Wildly, and herce, and loud, 
How we hail with joy a single gleam 

Of light through the rifted cloud ! 



FALLING LEAVES. 

Changing, fading, falling, dying, 
Lying on the dusty ways. 
Heaped in corners, whirled in eddies. 
Pride of all the summer days. 



36 WINTER MORNING. 

See yon mountain in its glory, 
With its crown of evergreen, 
And its flowing robe of crimson 
Flecked with dewdrops' silvery sheen; 
See where Autumn rears his standard 
On the hill and by the sea. 
And his banners, gold and scarlet. 
Float from meadow, bush, and tree. 

Changing, fading, falling, flying, 
Gently* loosed, or torn by strife. 
Tender buds and radiant flowers, 
Ripened fruit of useful life, 
On the way we see behind us ; 
Thickly lie these withered leaves. 
In the air a sigh is breathing. 
Of the world's great heart that grieves. 
See, grim Death has reared his standards, 
Everywhere their shadows fall. 
And his banners, pale and crimson, 
Float in silence o'er us all. 



WINTER MORNING. 

Calm, and cool, and clear, and bright, 
Over us broods the golden light 
Of the winter's dawning. 



DIE REISE. 137 

Unbroken whiteness far and near ; 
Diamond-crowned the trees appear, 
Flushed with thy beauty, morning. 

The glory deepens. One by one, 
Before thy glance, O regal sun. 

The trees their gems are shedding. 
While heaven's arcade of wondrous blue. 
Storm-purified, appears in view. 

Fit for the day-king's treading. 



DIE REISE, 



DAS AUSGEHEN. 

Beautiful heavens that meet the sea, 
Stretching between my friends and me ; 
Beautiful waves that bear me o'er 
Swiftly, to Germany's longed-for shore. 

Beautiful thoughts that come to me, — 
Loved ones are waiting beyond the sea ; 
Soon shall I reach their welcome sweet, 
Heart-love to heart-love answeiing beat. 

Beautiful moon and stars that shine 
Brightly on me and the distant Rhine, — 



138 DIE REISE. 

Dearer by far your light shall be, 
When we behold you beyond the sea. 

Wearily, wearily, time goes by, 

Daily I watch the twilight die ; 

Soon shall I clasp to this heart of mine 

Loved ones who wait by the castled Rhine. 

DAS HEIMKOMMEN. 

Homeward I come ! 
The circling heavens still bend to meet the sea 
That stretches still between my friends and me. 



I'm coming home. 



Thoughts come to me 
Of loved ones, who in sadness wait to know 
More of that time of overwhelming woe, 

Beyond the sea. 

The stars still shine, 
The moonlight glimmers on the passing wave. 
The same light falls upon her distant grave, 

Beside the Rhine. 

The hours creep on, 
I watch the dawn move slowly up the sky; 
Then noon, then see the twilight fade and die. 

One more day gone. 



IN MEMORIAM. 139 

Yet there is given 
The hope of meeting, where no dreary sea 
Shall roll between the friends I love and me, — 

'Tis there in heaven. 



IN MEMORIAM. 
In memory of Ruthie Grant. 

When day his burden of toil and care 
Has laid at the golden gate of the west, 

And a purpling hue fills all the air, 

And the bird and the bee have gone to rest, 

I wonder then, 'mid the tender light. 
Who's taking care of baby to-night. 

Somewhere, amid the far-away sky. 

Is the home where my baby stays to-night ; 

And, as I watch the stars on high, 
I wonder which rays of golden light 

Fall on that unknown dwelling where 
Liveth my baby, — Golden-hair. 

Whose is the voice that lovingly 

Tells what her questioning soul would know ? 
Whose is the hand that tenderly 

Leads her where fadeless flowers grow ? 
In that happy land, so fair, so bright. 

Who's taking care of baby to-night ? 



40 THE GOLDEN LYRE. 

Oh, what would I give if I could know 

What she has learned since she went away ! 

Wonders more wonderful heaven can show 
Than have met the light of an earthly day, — 

The new, new song, the wonderful name, 
The harp, the crown, and the sea-like flame. 

I wonder if, when the burst of song 
From heavenly choirs met her ear. 

And she saw the countless, white-robed throng. 
She felt, for one instant, a start of fear ; 

Or if, in her fearless innocence, 
She met the gaze of Omnipotence. 

She went in the springtime away from me, 
And now, in the radiant summer-time, 

I Ions: for the hour when I shall see 
That happy land, that sinless clime. 

When these tired arms shall fold once more 
Round my golden-haired darling as of yore. 



THE GOLDEN LYRE. 

When lingering beams of glory deck 
The sombre brow of even, 

And one by one the stars appear 
Within the summer-heaven, 



THE GOLDEN LYRE. I4I 

'Tis said that witching melody 

Upon their radiance floats, 
And streams along the sunset sky 

In sweet, yet solemn, notes. 

'Tis fabled that in ancient times, 

High in the upper air, 
A golden lyre, with chords of light, 

Was hung suspended there. 
And that the wandering breezes, 

As o'er its strings they strayed 
At twilight, or at midnight hour. 

Entrancing music made. 

No eye of mortal ever saw 

This wondrous golden lyre ; 
No hand of mortal ever swept 

Its glowing chords of fire ; 
Celestial fingers only woke 

Its hidden harmony, — 
They, only they, with spirits bright, 

In spotless purity. 

One night the clouds, with gathering gloom, 

Obscured each glittering star. 
And fearful lightnings' lurid flash 

Gleamed through the heavens afar; 
The tempest wildly surged; the lyre 

Gave forth a mournful strain ; 



142 ONLY. 

It could not bear the furious storm ; 
The strings were snapped in twani. 

But one remained, as if to tell 

To all the starry train 
What anthem-chorus used to roll 

Across the midnight plain. 
If such its power of charming now, 

One only of the ten, — 
If now it wakes such music rare, 

What must it have been then ? 



ONL V. 

Only a bud we call it ; 

But its pale green leaflets fold 
Over the summer's beauty. 

And autumn's treasured gold. 

Only a little brown acorn ; 

But we shall find, at length. 
It cradled the forest monarch, 

With all his mighty strength. 

Only a kind word spoken. 

Only a kind look given ; 
But they filled a life with beauty. 

And a soul was raised to heaven ! 



DRIFTING. 

JANUARY. 

Crystal-crownld, and robed in whiteness, 
Wondrous robe of feathery lightness 

Fashioned by the winter wind, 
Lo ! thou comest, — brook and river, 
When they hear thee, stiffen, shiver, 
And the long pine needles quiver ; 

Yet thy heart is good and kind, 
For thy cold, stern hand of duty 
Weaves the summer's crown of beauty. 



43 



DRIFTING. 



See where the light of life's bright morning 
Beams o'er the waste of time's wide sea; 

Two frail barques are idly floating, 

Borne here and there by wild winds free. 

Joy's pennant gay from each mast-head streaming, 
Hope, fairy hope, on each fair prow ; 

Music of elf-land from each deck is ringing. 
Heart-beats keep time to pleasure now. 

Drifted together from distant harbors, 
Sail they together through coming years ; 

Though storms should drown the elfin music, 
And hope be veiled by falling tears. 



144 SONNET. 

Sail they together ? See now they're driftin< 
Slowly, but surely, wider apart. 

From one mast-head no pennant streameth. 
Joy has faded from out one heart. 

Dimmed is the light that shone at morning, 
Hushed forever each fairy tone ; 

Still 1 see them, while dark clouds gather, 
Drifting apart, — floating alone. 



SONNET. 
In memory of Mrs. C. H. Hill. 

When to the sunshine of a summer day 
We see unfold the myriad petalled flower, 
We never think of each long, weary hour 

It has been growing, hidden in earth away. 

It matters little, to ourselves we say, 

How long was kept subdued the mighty power ; 
Conqueror o'er darkness that so long did lower, 

At length it holds an undisputed sway ! 

And so, when in the fields of light on high 
The spirit blooms in everlasting life, 
Then, freed from scenes with fell temptation rife, 

It greets the blest air of eternity, 

And lives and grows in perfect ecstasy. 
Victorious from the finished earthly strife ! 



THE PEACE JUBILEE. 1 45 

THE PEACE JUBILEE. 
June, 1869. 

Star of the morning, twinkle in gladness, 

Thousands of hearts have long waited for thee ; 

Thousands of voices shall join in the chorus, 

" It has come ; it has come ! the Peace Jubilee ! " 

Come from the pine state, glad sons and daughters ! 

Come from the forest, the river and sea ; 
With the rustle of leaves and the murmur of waters. 

Bring your tribute of joy to the " Peace Jubilee." 

Sons of the keystone state, join in the chorus ! 

" Jubilate in pace," our motto shall be ; 
North, south, east and west, as brothers uniting, 

Bring your tribute of love to the " Peace Jubilee." 

Come from the shores of the far-off Pacific, 

From mountains that rise in their lone majesty ; 

Come to us now o'er the nation's grand highway, 
With love, joy and peace, to the grand "Jubilee." 

Winds of the forest ! flowers of the prairie ! 

Ye mighty rivers that roll to the sea ! 
Earth, air and ocean, give us your tribute, 

To welcome the dawn of the " Peace Jubilee." 



1 46 SC RIB END UM. 

SCRIBENDUM. 

Writing, writing, ever writing, 

Not on paper-page alone ; 
But on human hearts, inditing 

Words and deeds that we must own ; 

Words of love and deeds of kindness. 
Glowing with a livmg light; 

In our weakness and our blindness. 
Shining guides amid the night ; — 

Words of cutting scorn and sneering, 
Double-edged, with blade so keen 

That we shrink in dread and fearing. 
When their clear, cold flash is seen;- 

Words on fleshly tables written, 
Burned into our very soul. 

Into conscious being smitten 
By a power beyond control. 

Writing, writing, ever writing, 

On the hearts by each one known ; 

Every word of our inditing 
Shall react upon our own. 



THANKSGIVING HYMN. 1 47 

THANKSGIVING HYMN. 

For the promise of the spring-time, 

Leafy bud and tinted flower, 
Prophecy of teeming harvests, 

We would offer praise this hour ; 
Heavenly Father, 

Thine the gracious love and power. 

For the beauty of the summer. 

Forest grand and waving grain, 
Glad fulfilment of Thy promise, 

We would raise the grateful strain, 
Till earth's voices 

Send the echo back again. 

For the harvest fields of autumn. 

For the treasures of the hills, — 
Hark ! the universal anthem 

Which the whole creation thrills ; 
God of nature. 
Heaven and earth Thy glory fills. 

For the resting time of winter, 

When beneath earth's robe of white 

Slumbering lie the coming harvests 
Till the spring awakes in light ; 

Praise and glory. 
Thou eternal God of might. 



148 SUNSET ROCK. 

God of all the changing seasons, 
Ruler of each rolling sphere, 

For Thy benefits uncounted, 

That have crowned the passing year, 

For thy goodness, 
Grateful praise we offer here. 



SUNSET ROCK. 

Heaven is all ablaze with glory. 
Every heart with pleasure thrills, 

Gazing on that wondrous vision. 
Summer sunset on the hills. 

Gold and crimson lights are flashing 

In the heavens to and fro ; 
North and south the brightening splendors 

O'er the sky their lustre throw. 

Slowly 'mid this sea of splendor 
Sinks the day-king to his rest, 

Folds the cloud of brightest color. 
Like a mantle, round his breast. 

I could sit and gaze forever. 
How the sight my spirit thrills ! 

Summer twilight on the mountains ! 
August sunset on the hills ! 



ODE. 149 



ODE. 



For the dedication of the Wakefield High School Building, Oct. 
0, 1872. 

Gladly our voices join, 

Knowledge, in praise of thee ; 
Sprung from a source Divine, 
Child of eternity ! 

Theme of our song, 

E'er shall belong 
To thee a mighty power ; 

Never to cease. 

Still to increase 
Forever, evermore. 

Science, this temple fair 

Give we to thee to-day ; 
Here may thy votaries throng, 
Joyfully, homage pay. 

And evermore 

Seek to explore 
Thy truth's exhaustless mine ; 

Minds that shall yearn. 

Souls that shall burn 
To grasp that wealth of thine. 

May the great Source of truth 
Ever be honored here ; 



150 JUBILEE POEM. 

May His protecting care 

Guard us, each passing year ; 
Until, at last, — 
Earth-life all past, — 

We meet before His throne ; 
Pure in His sight, 
Dwelling in light. 

" Knowing as we are known." 



JUBILEE POEM. 

Written to celebrate the payment of the debt of the Baptist 
church, Wakefield, Mass., January, 1882. 

" Thanksgiving and the voice of melody 

Are leading in from heaven a blest New Year." 

Not all the visions that we see come to us while we 
slumber ; 

But waking hours oft bring us rapturous dreams, 
And gladdening thoughts, beyond our power to number. 

Throng in our hearts, till, what is real, what seems. 
We scarce can tell ; but, in our wondrous gladness, 

Live a new life, and for a little while 
Rising above all care and fear and sadness. 

We live, O Paradise, beneath thy smile. 

I had a vision, as the glory faded 

From the last day of eighteen eighty-one ; 



JUBILEE POEM. 151 

When purple fringe the far horizon shaded, 

And one faint star showed night had just begun. 

Wondrous and strange the scene that passed before me ! 

It was- the last, last hour of all the year; 
The midnight-moon shone in its beauty o'er me, 

The stars gleamed fainter as she drew more near. 

I stood before a church, whose spire was pointing 
With tireless finger toward the great Unseen, 

As if beseeching for Divine anointing, 

That should atone tor faults His eye had seen. 

High overhead, within a latticed tower, 
The great bell hung in silent loneliness ; 

No hand was there to wake its hidden power, 
And break the spell ihat held it motionless : 

Below, the doors were shut ; and, interlacing, 
A heavy chain the entrance closely barred ; 

While to and fro before it, slowly pacing, 
A steel-clad sentry kept his sleepless guard. 

No light within the church, save straggling moon-beams. 
No sound without, save the lone sentry's tread ; 

The earth and heaven seemed hushed, as if expectant 
Of what might be when the old year was dead. 



152 JUBILEE POEM. 

The clock struck twelve ! 

An unseen hand swung wide 
The solemn portals of eternity ; 

And from its home 

By the Great Father's side 
The new year came to bless humanity, — 

When lo ! a wondrous change ! the lofty tower 
Flung wide its latticed doors, and loud and clear 

The bell rang forth, struck by an unseen power, 
A joyous greeting to the .glad new year. 

From its iron tongue, 

As it rocked and swung 
Back and forth in the belfry dim, 

There floated down. 

O'er the sleeping town, 
A requiem, and a birthday hymn. 

And an angel came 

With a rod of flame, 
And smote the armored sentinel ; 

The heavy chain 

Was snapped in twain. 
When the hand of his power on it fell. 

Then softly from the rainbowed oriel stealing, 
From every window-pane, a wondrous light. 



JUBILEE POEM. I 53 

In beauty far excelling earth's revealing, 
Heightened the glory of that winter night. 

Within the sacred desk appeared a form ; 

He spoke, — love, joy within his visage blent ; 
I knew that I had seen that face before, — 

I knew what all his heaven-sent message meant. 



And others I saw gathering round him there ; 

Voices I heard, which, in the days of old, 
Had often trembled in an earnest prayer, 

Or tenderly " the old, old story " told. 

Then, suddenly, within the choir there stood 
Forms I had not beheld before for years ; 

Their robes washed white in the Redeemer's blood, 
Their eyes undimmed by grief, or falling tears. 

Oh could I tell you of the song they sang ! 

Words that we use are all too weak and poor; 
Long, long within my heart their echoes rang, 

Victory ! victory ! triumph evermore ! 

And here and there, among the seats below, 

I marked the reverent throng, while worshipping ; 

Yes, they were there, — the friends I used to know. 
Once more I saw them, once more heard them sing. 



154 JUBILEE POEM. 

Then, every letter, arching o'er the choir, 
And every word that spanned the gallery, 

Glowed with a pure and strangely radiant fire, 
Dazzling the eyes with its weird brilliancy. 

A single stroke of sound then cleft the air. 
Again, as at the first, I seemed to stand 

Before that church, which, in the moonlight fair. 
Pointed still upward with its tireless hand. 



I knew the church, — I knew the chiming bell, — 
But what the chain that barred the entrance door? 

And who the tall and steel-clad sentinel ? 
And who the angel with the rod of power.? 

Dost seek for one these mysteries to explain ? 

A voice beside me to my thought replies, — 
The sentinel is Mammon, debt the chain, 

The angel is love's glad self-sacrifice ! 

Nor was this all a vision of the night; 

When, but a week ago, we gathered here. 
And tender memories veiled with tears the sight. 

We felt the presence of those we held dear. 

Nay, if ye doubt that heavenly guests were there, 
Sharing our joy, glad of our victory, — 



JUBILEE POEM. 155 

What hushed our spirits into reverent prayer? 
What thrilled with holy joy our melody ? 

What made us feel that God himself was nis^h, 
And gratefully the song to heaven raise, 

" Not unto us, — not unto us, O Lord, — 

But unto Thy great name be all the j^raise " ? 

Free from all debts we owe ? Oh, no ! Oh, no ! 

We are not free, we never shall be more ; 
We never can discharge the debt we owe, 

Until eternity itself be o'er. 

We owe to all our neighbors, all our friends, 

Our truest ones, our bitterest enemy. 
Love and forgiveness, nought can make amends 

For what we owe, but heaven-born charity. 

We owe the world the news of Christ and heaven ; 

" Freely ye have received, then freely give " 
Was our commission when we were forgiven. 

And we began for Him to work and live. 



'• Render to all their due," — thus saith the Lord ! 

Soon may His high behests, by all obeyed. 
Bring heaven to earth, with all its blest award, 

Redemption's triumph, world-wide conquest made 



1 56 SEPTEMBER. 

SEPTEMBER. 

September, September, 

O radiant harvest-lime ! 
O wondrous scene of triumph ! 

O ecstasy sublime ! 
The trees repeat the story 

That summer's fled away ; 
The bhish of conscious glory 

Is on the earth to-day. 

September, September, 

Across the fields, all shorn, 
Lieth the autumn sunshine. 

As each new day is born ; 
And when, the splendor dying. 

The daylight leaves the west. 
The hours, onward flying, 

Unveil the stars of rest. 

September, September, 

Thy brow is crowned with flowers 
The parting smile of summer 

Brightens thy opening hours ; 
But, wondrous transformation 1 

Before our waiting eyes 
A glorious revelation ! 

The blossoms crystallize. 



BEAUTIFUL FANCIES. 1 57 

September, September, 

Thy days will soon be gone ; 
The beauty of the woodland 

Be shrivelled, sere and brown ; 
But we shall not forget thee, 

As year succeedeth year ; 
We'll welcome, we'll regret thee, 

With song and falling tear. 



BEAUTIFUL FANCIES. 

Beautiful fancies, that come and go 
Whenever west v/inds whisper low ; 

Beautiful dreams that nightly come 
Floating down from the starlit dome. 

Beautiful hours that speed away, 
Making many a beautiful day ; 

Beautiful words that echo through 

The moments that come to me and you. 

Beautiful deeds that brighten life. 
Gilding the waves of sin and strife ; 

Beautiful souls that patient wait, 
O paradise ! before thy gate. 



158 BEAUTIFUL t^ANCIES. 

Beautiful scenes that round us lie, 
Gladdening both the heart and eye ! 

Beautiful sounds that linger long, 
Blending at last in a glorious song. 

Beautiful hopes that cheer us on ; 

Beautiful memories of days now gone ; 
Fancies and dreams and hopes, for me, 

Sometime a beautiful truth shall be. 



